Governor and chancellor were
still busy examining witnesses. In the morning came a maid {119} from
the governor's daughter with a red thread of warning, and none too
soon, for at ten o'clock, a Cossack sergeant brought a polite
invitation from the governor for the pleasure of M. Benyowsky's company
at breakfast.
M. Benyowsky returns polite regrets that he is slightly indisposed, but
hopes to give himself the pleasure later.
The sergeant winked his eyes and opined it was wiser to go by fair
means than to be dragged by main force.
The Pole advised the sergeant to make his will before repeating that
threat.
Noon saw two Cossacks and an officer thundering at the Pole's door.
The door opened wide. In marched the soldiers, armed to the teeth; but
before their clicking heels had ceased to mark time, the door was shut
again. Benyowsky had whistled. A dozen exiles rose out of the floor.
Cossacks and captors rolled in a heap. The soldiers were bound head to
feet, and bundled into the cellar. Meanwhile the sentinels hidden in
the ravine had captured Ismyloff, the nephew of the chancellor, and two
other Russians, who were added to the captives in the cellar; and the
governor changed his tactics.
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