Late in the evening of the third day, they arrived at Notteburg.  The building at which the carriage stopped was of considerable size.  It stood in the heart of the town, and had no outward appearance of a prison.  It was apparently at a side entrance at which they stopped.  On the officer knocking at the door, it was opened by two Cossacks, who, after exchanging a few words in Russian with the officer, led Charlie along a passage and up a narrow staircase, which led into a somewhat spacious corridor.  They opened a door, and he found himself in a comfortable room.  A table laid for dinner with handsome silver and appointments stood in the middle of the room, which was carpeted with tartar rugs.  One of the Cossacks opened an inner door, which led into a bedroom, snugly furnished.

“It must be the doctor, after all,” Charlie murmured to himself, in great surprise.  “I see now that there was plenty of time for a letter to come up here and have gone back again, and I suppose the good fellow has got leave for me to stay for a night in his quarters, before I am handed over to the prison.  Well, for the last three days I have travelled like a prince, and this is the closing act of it.”

He enjoyed a good wash, then returned to the other room, and sat down in a comfortable chair to wait for his host.  He was on the point of dozing off, when the door opened, and Peter Michaeloff entered.  Charlie sprang to his feet.

“Well, Captain Carstairs,” the Russian said, holding out his hand, “so it seems you had bad luck again.  You must have quite an affection for our prisons.”

“I shall have, at least, a pleasant remembrance of the kindness shown to me as a prisoner,” Charlie said; “and I am sure it is you that I have to thank for my transfer here, and for the pleasant journey I have had.  I could not have travelled more comfortably, if I had been a Russian grandee.”

“Well, I am glad to meet you again,” the doctor said heartily.  “Let me see, it is some twenty months since we supped together last at Kelly’s quarters.  Poor fellow!  I shall miss him greatly.  You have heard of his death?”

“The governor of Bercov told me of it, a fortnight ago.  I was indeed sorry to hear it.  I shall never forget his kindness to me.”

“Yes, he was a good man, skilful in his profession, and full of zeal and energy.  The blood runs faster somehow, in the veins of you islanders, than of us sluggish Muscovites.  If we could but at one sweep banish every Russian official, from the highest to the lowest, and fill their places with men from your islands, what progress we should make, what work could we get done, what reforms could be carried out!

“However, at present,” he went on, changing the subject abruptly, “the point is supper.  I am as hungry as a bear, for I have been at work since daylight, and have eaten nothing since I broke my fast.”

He rang a handbell placed on the table.  Two Cossacks entered bearing dishes, and the doctor and his guest at once fell to on the supper, which was excellent.