own sakes.  The soldiers will not admit that they have been drunk, but will declare that no one has passed the gate.  The lieutenant in charge will hang up the key on its hook in the guard-room, and will declare that every time he made his rounds he found the men alert and vigilant.  It will therefore be supposed that the warder has let you out by a rope or in some other way.  No doubt there will be a vigilant hue-and-cry in the morning, and the commandant will search every house, will keep a sharp watch over the chateau, and will scour the country for miles round.  But it will die away in time.  I wrote yesterday afternoon to my friends in St. Petersburg, urging them to obtain the appointment of some friend to this post.  The party of reform will be in the ascendency in the counsels of the emperor, and I have every hope that I shall shortly be restored to favor at court, a matter, by the way, which I care for very much more for the sake of my daughters than for myself.  The countess and I are well content with our life in the country, but the girls naturally look forward to the gayeties of life at the capital.  Beside which,” he added, laughing, “I must be looking for husbands for them, and I fear that I should not find satisfactory suitors in this neighborhood.”

Jack could not help glancing at Olga, for, with a midshipman’s usual inflammatory tendency, he was convinced that he was hopelessly in love with that damsel.  Olga colored, and then turned away, from which Jack could gain no indication favorable or otherwise for his hopes.

The count now explained the plans that had been adopted for their escape.  “It would,” he said, “seem the natural course to aid you, as we have done the warder, by driving you far into the country.  But the descriptions of you are sure to be sent to every place within fifty miles.  I know no one to whom I could safely entrust you, and the doctor says that it is impossible that our friend Dick should walk for any distance for the next two or three days.  The doctor has fortunately received orders to-day to start at daybreak this morning with a convoy going back to Sebastopol.  No doubt the new commandant had heard that he was prepared to give evidence at the court-martial contradicting the governor’s statement that you were prisoners on parole, and therefore wished to get him out of the way.  There are several of my carts which have been requisitioned for the service, in the convoy.  I have here peasants’ dresses for you.  These you will put on, and when the carts come along from the chateau half an hour before daybreak it is arranged that you will take the places of two of the drivers, who will at once return home.  There will be no loading to do, as the carts will be laden with flour for the army before they leave to-night, so you will only have to go along with the others, and take your places in the convoy.  After starting the doctor will come along the line, and seeing Dick limping, will order him to take his place