CHAPTER VII.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CZAR.
Gerald was true to his appointment, and he found the Prince prepared to receive him. But few words were exchanged; Mentzikoff beckoned him to follow, and they proceeded together to the Czar’s hut. It is an odd fancy for an Emperor to live in such a place when he might live in a grand palace, thought our hero; however, he wisely kept his thoughts to himself.
Peter had been put out of temper the night before, by meeting with some trifling opposition to his wishes and plans; and the minister, though a very great favourite with his sovereign, was not quite sure that even he could get a hearing at that time. He had taken a fancy to Gerald, however, and he was determined to do all he could to serve him. Bidding him, therefore, wait without till he called or sent to him, Mentzikoff entered the Czar’s hut alone.
Peter was up as usual and busy with his plans for the new city. The Prince did not, therefore, at once state the object of his early visit, but quietly listened to all his sovereign had to say. After a while, however, he ventured to lay the business before him.
The Emperor’s brow darkened and became more and more contracted as the Prince proceeded. ‘What were the boors made for but to serve their country in that way?’ he fiercely asked.
‘True, Sire;’ returned the Prince, ‘but this poor man is it appears unable to serve his country by manual labour any longer, and as the youth is so desirous of taking his place the exchange will be for your Majesty’s benefit.
‘Bring him hither,’ was the Czar’s abrupt rejoinder.
Gerald was the next minute ushered into the presence of the Emperor.
‘Come here, boy,’ he cried in a loud stern voice.
Gerald obeyed, but without shewing any signs of alarm.
‘Thou’rt not Russian?’ the Czar added, surveying his person with a scrutinizing glance.
‘I know not to what country I belong, Sire,’ the youth replied; ‘I was shipwrecked on the coast hard by, and I owe my life and everything else I possess to Michael Kopt.’
‘And who is Michael Kopt?’
‘Sire, Michael Kopt is the man whose place in the public works I wish to fill.’
‘Thou art of too slight a make for such work, boy,’ cried the Czar.
‘Nay, I have a stronger arm than I may seem to have, Sire; and if anything can nerve it for the work surely gratitude will do so.’
‘By what name art thou called?’ demanded the Emperor.
‘My name is Gerald, Sire.’
‘And how many years ago was it that thou wert shipwrecked on these shores?’
‘It was a little more than twelve years ago, Sire, I was then an infant of only a few months old.’
‘And you have never heard anything of your parents or friends?’
‘Never, Sire. The river was at that time beginning to overflow its banks, and I have reason to believe that I was the only person who escaped the wreck.’
The Czar mused for a few moments, then snatching up a piece of parchment from the table before him, he wrote a few words upon it, and gave it into the hand of the minister.
‘Give the boy that, Mentzikoff,’ he said; ‘let him present it to the master of the works, and his request will be promptly attended to.’
The Prince handed the parchment to Gerald who took it with a countenance radiant with delight. He could not speak, but making a low obeisance first to the Czar and then to the minister, he withdrew from the royal presence.
As may be supposed, our hero lost no time in returning to the cottage with the joyful news of his success. But much as they all loved Michael, Margaret and the old people could scarcely rejoice in the thought of his restoration to his home when his liberty was to be purchased at such a cost. To the grateful boy, however, every task seemed light, and even his humiliation appeared honourable. Nor was this a delusive idea, for the most laborious employment derives dignity from a noble motive.
The different circumstances under which Michael and Gerald commenced the same task made a wide difference in their feelings when engaged in it. With the former it was compulsory, with the latter it was voluntary. Michael felt himself to be the unwilling servant of a tyrannical master. Gerald overlooked the fact of working for the emperor in the animating idea that he was conferring a benefit on those who had done so much for him. He had moreover the delightful consciousness that his sacrifice of self met with the smile of his Father in Heaven. Nor did Gerald repent of the noble sacrifice he had made, when the first excitement was over, and he came to endure the severe, and in some instances, unexpected hardships it had brought upon him. He not only commenced his work cheerfully, but continued to pursue it with the same happy spirit. His joy and thankfulness were unbounded when he received intelligence that Michael was gradually recovering his health under Margaret’s careful nursing. At length the good woman herself came to visit him, bringing the news that her husband was now so nearly restored that he hoped to be able to walk as far himself ere long. Gerald thought, however, that it would not be wise for him to come, lest it being known that he was again capable of labour, he should be pressed a second time into the service, and his fears were not without foundation; for where there is a despotic government, the humbler classes of the people are looked upon as little better than machines, made for the sole purpose of executing the plans of those in power.