The cell to which the boys were conducted was a small one, and horribly dirty.  Jack shrugged his shoulders, as he looked at it.

“It is not fit for a pig,” he said to himself.  “After all, Russia is not such a pleasant place as I thought it yesterday.”

When they were left alone, Jack set to work to cheer up his companion, who was weak, and inclined to be despondent from the loss of blood which he had suffered.

“At any rate, old boy,” Jack said, in reply to Dick’s assertion of his conviction that they would be shot, “we shall have the satisfaction that we have procured the safety of our friends at the chateau.  Now that their enemy is gone, the count will no doubt be let alone.  It was dreadful to think what would have become of the countess and the three girls if their father had been sent to Siberia, and they turned out penniless.  Besides, old fellow, we are a long way from being dead yet.  After all, it is only the governor’s word against ours, and you may be sure that the count will move heaven and earth to bring matters right.”

It was dusk before the doctor returned.

“I have seen the count,” he said, “and the ladies and he were greatly distressed at my news.  It is plain to see that you are prime favorites.  The young ladies were very Niobes.  The count was most anxious to learn all particulars, but I could only tell him that you asserted the governor had attacked you first.  He drove in at once, and made no doubt that he should be allowed to see you.  In this, however, he was disappointed, and indeed you have had a most fortunate escape.  The officer second in command here is a relative of the late governor.  Fortunately he was absent this morning, and only returned this afternoon.  Like the late count he is of a violent and passionate temper, and when he heard the news swore that had he been here, he would have instantly had you brought out and shot in the square.  Indeed, it was with difficulty that the other officers dissuaded him from doing so upon his return.  He has ordered that a court-martial shall assemble to-morrow, and that you shall be at once tried and executed.”

“But surely,” Jack said, “no court-martial of officers would find us guilty.  The count’s violent temper was notorious, and it is against all reason that two unarmed men should make an attack upon one armed with a sword, and within call of assistance.  You yourself know, Doctor Bertmann, that the reason which he alleged for the attack is a false one, as we were not asked for our parole.”

“I am, of course, aware of that,” the doctor said, “and should attend to give evidence, but the case is a doubtful one.  The officers of our line regiments are, for the most part, poor and friendless men.  Promotion is almost entirely by favoritism, and it would need a very considerable amount of courage and independence to give a verdict in the teeth of their commanding officer.  In the next place, for I have heard them talking it over among themselves, there is a sort of feeling that, for the honor of the Russian army, it is almost necessary that you should be found guilty, since it would throw discredit upon the whole service were it published to the world that two unarmed young English officers had been attacked with a sword by a Russian officer of rank.”