The fingers of the young princes began to quiver, and they looked along the walls for weapons; but the lieutenant cried out,--
“Wretches! you have seized the property of an orphan, but to no purpose. In a day from now Vishnyevetski will know of this.”
At these words the princess rushed to the end of the room, and seizing a dart, went up to the lieutenant. The young men also, having seized each what he could lay hands on,--one a sabre, another a knife,--stood in a half-circle near him, panting like a pack of mad wolves.
“You will go to the prince, will you?” shouted the old woman; “and are you sure that you will go out of here alive, and that this is not your last hour?”
Skshetuski crossed his arms on his breast, and did not wink an eye.
“I am on my way from the Crimea,” said he, “as a
