“I know what I would have done,” said Mrs. Crowder, her eyes very bright; “I would have let her kill me.  I would never have consented for thee to marry the wretch.”

“That would have pleased her,” said Mr. Crowder; “for she would have had me all the same, and you would have been out of the way.”

“Then I would not have died,” said the little Quakeress, almost fiercely; “I would not have done anything to please her.  But I don’t know.  What did thee and thy wife do?”

“We talked and talked and talked,” said Mr. Crowder, “and at last I persuaded her to live; that is to say, not to make herself an obstacle to the wishes of the empress.  It was a terrible trial, but she consented.  The more insignificant she became, I told her, the greater her chances of safety.

“The next day the empress sent for me, as I was sure she would do.

“‘You did not tell me,’ she said, ‘how many wives your men have.’  ’That all depends upon the will of our sovereign,’ I replied; ’in matrimonial affairs we do as we are commanded.  When we have no commands from the throne, our circumstances regulate the matter.’”

“Thee did tell a dreadful lie while thee was about it,” said Mrs. Crowder, “but I suppose thee had to.”

“You are right there,” said her husband; “and my answer pleased the empress.  ‘That is what I like,’ she said.  ’The monarch should settle all these matters.  I hope some day to settle them in this country.’  Then, without any hesitation or preface, she announced her intention of marrying me.  ‘I greatly need,’ she said, ’a learned man for an imperial consort.  My present husband knows nothing.  I never trust him with any affairs of state.  But I have never asked you anything to which you did not give me a satisfactory answer.’  Now, my dear,” said Mr. Crowder, “you see the reward of vanity.  If I had pretended to be a fool instead of aspiring to be a philosopher and an historian, I should never have attracted the interest of the queen.”

“And did thee marry her?” asked his wife.  “I do so pity poor Rina!”

“I’ll tell you how it turned out,” he continued.  “After pressing me a good deal, the empress said:  ’I had intended to marry you in a few days, or as soon as the preparations could be made; but I have now postponed that ceremony.  I find that military affairs must occupy me for some time, and it would be better for me at present to marry one of my generals.  A military man is what the country needs.  But I shall want a counselor of your sort very soon, so you must hold yourself ready to marry me whenever I shall notify you.’

“My instincts prompted me to ask her what the imperial general might be apt to think about the increase in her matrimonial forces, but I was wise enough to hold my tongue.  When the general should cease to be of use to her, I knew very well that he would not be likely to offer opposition to anything on earth.”

“How glad I am,” ejaculated Mrs. Crowder, “that thee didn’t ask any questions, and that thee consented to everything the wicked creature said!”