“In answer to your excellency on the score of Ensign Grineff, who is said to have been mixed up in the troubles, and to have entered into communication with the robber, communication contrary to the rules and regulations of the service, and opposed to all the duties imposed by his oath, I have the honour to inform you that the aforesaid Ensign Grineff served at Orenburg from the month of Oct., 1773, until Feb. 24th of the present year, upon which day he left the town, and has not been seen since.  Still the enemy’s deserters have been heard to declare that he went to Pugatchef’s camp, and that he accompanied him to Fort Belogorsk, where he was formerly in garrison.  On the other hand, in respect to his conduct I can—­”

Here the General broke off, and said to me with harshness—­

“Well, what have you to say now for yourself?”

I was about to continue as I had begun, and relate my connection with Marya as openly as the rest.  But suddenly I felt an unconquerable disgust to tell such a story.  It occurred to me that if I mentioned her, the Commission would oblige her to appear; and the idea of exposing her name to all the scandalous things said by the rascals under cross-examination, and the thought of even seeing her in their presence, was so repugnant to me that I became confused, stammered, and took refuge in silence.

My judges, who appeared to be listening to my answers with a certain good will, were again prejudiced against me by the sight of my confusion.  The officer of the Guard requested that I should be confronted with the principal accuser.  The General bade them bring in yesterday’s rascal. I turned eagerly towards the door to look out for my accuser.

A few moments afterwards the clank of chains was heard, and there entered—­Chvabrine.  I was struck by the change that had come over him.  He was pale and thin.  His hair, formerly black as jet, had begun to turn grey.  His long beard was unkempt.  He repeated all his accusations in a feeble, but resolute tone.  According to him, I had been sent by Pugatchef as a spy to Orenburg; I went out each day as far as the line of sharpshooters to transmit written news of all that was passing within the town; finally, I had definitely come over to the usurper’s side, going with him from fort to fort, and trying, by all the means in my power, to do evil to my companions in treason, to supplant them in their posts, and profit more by the favours of the arch-rebel.  I heard him to the end in silence, and felt glad of one thing; he had never pronounced Marya’s name.  Was it because his self-love was wounded by the thought of her who had disdainfully rejected him, or was it that still within his heart yet lingered a spark of the same feeling which kept me silent?  Whatever it was, the Commission did not hear spoken the name of the daughter of the Commandant of Fort Belogorsk.  I was still further confirmed in the resolution I had taken, and when the judges asked me if I had aught to answer to Chvabrine’s allegations, I contented myself with saying that I did abide by my first declaration, and that I had nothing more to show for my vindication.