I glanced into the room, and nearly fainted. On the floor, in the
coarse dress of a peasant, Marie was seated, pale, thin, her hair
in disorder; before her on the floor stood a pitcher of water covered
by a piece of bread. Upon seeing me, she started, and uttered a
piercing shriek. Pougatcheff glanced at Alexis, smiled bitterly,
and said: "Your hospital is in nice order?"

"Tell me, my little dove, why does your husband punish you in
this way?"

"My husband! he is not my husband. I am resolved to die rather than
marry him; and I shall die, if not soon released."

Pougatcheff gave a furious look at Alexis, and said: "Do you dare to
deceive me, knave?"

Alexis fell on his knees. Contempt stifled all my feelings of hatred
and vengeance. I saw with disgust, a gentleman kneeling at the feet
of a Cossack deserter.

"I pardon you, this time," said the brigand, "but remember, your next
fault will recall this one." He turned to Marie, and said, gently:
"Come out, my pretty girl, you are free. I am the Czar!"

Marie looked at him, hid her face in her hands and fell on the floor
unconscious. She had no doubt divined that he had caused her parents'
death. I rushed to aid her, when my old acquaintance, Polacca, boldly
entered, and hastened to revive her mistress. Pougatcheff, Alexis and
I went down to the reception room.