Horatio was bid to approach, and when he did so,—­you are called hither, said the jew in the Swedish language, to answer to such questions as shall be asked you, concerning a conspiracy carried on between you and your fellow-prisoners with the enemies of Russia.  Horatio understood the language perfectly well, having conversed so long with Swedes, but never could attain to a perfect pronounciation of it, so replied in French, that he knew the prince could speak French, and he would therefore answer to any interrogatories his highness should be pleased to make without the help of an interpreter.

Are you not then a Swede? said the prince.  Horatio then told him that he was not, but came from France into the service of the king of Sweden merely thro’ his love of arms.

On these words Menzikoff dismissed the jew, and looked earnestly on him; wan and pale as he was grown thro’ his long confinement, and the many hardships he had sustained, this prince found something in him that attracted his admiration.—­Methinks, said he, since glory was your aim, you might as well have hoped to acquire it under the banners of our invincible emperor.

Alas! my lord, replied Horatio with a sigh, that title, till very lately, was given to the king of Sweden, and, I believe, whatever fate has attended that truly great prince, those who had the honour to be distinguished by him, will never be suspected either of cowardice or baseness.—­It was by brave and open means our king taught his soldiers the way to victory, not by mean subterfuges and little plots:—­I cannot therefore conceive for what reason I am brought hither to be examined on any score that has the appearance of a conspiracy.

Yes, replied the prince feircely, you and your fellow-prisoners have endeavoured to insinuate yourselves into the favour of persons whom you imagined entrusted with the secrets of the government:—­being prisoners of war, you formed contrivances for your escape, and attempted to inveigle others to accompany your flight.

That every tittle of this accusation is false, my lord, cried Horatio, there needs no more than the improbability of it to prove.—­Indeed the cruel usage we sustained, might have justified an attempt to free ourselves, yet did such a design never enter our heads:—­we were so far from making use of any stratagems for that purpose, that we never made the least overture to any of the guards, who were the only persons we were allowed to converse with.

How! said the prince interrupting him, were not your privileges enlarged by the interposition of a lady?—­Did she not make you considerable allowances out of her own purse, and frequently visit you to receive your thanks?—­And were you not emboldened by these favours to urge her to reveal what secrets were in her knowledge, and even to assist you in your escape?—­You doubtless imagined you could prevail on her also to go with you:—­part of this, continued he, she has herself confessed:—­it will therefore be in vain for you to deny it:—­if you ingenuously reveal these particulars she has omitted, you may hope to find favour; but it you obstinately persist, as your companions have done, in attempting to impose upon me, you must expect to share the same fate immediately.