"A lady! where did you fish her out?" and he whistled in so rollicking
a manner, that the rest burst out laughing.

"Well," said Zourine, "then you must have a house in the town. Here,
boy! why do you not bring in Pougatcheff's friend?"

"What are you about," said I. "It is Captain Mironoff's daughter. I
have just obtained her liberty, and I am taking her to my father's,
where I shall leave her."

"In the name of Heaven, what are _you_ talking about? Are _you_
Pougatcheff's chum?"

"I will tell you everything later; first go and see this poor girl,
whom your soldiers have horribly frightened."

Zourine went out into the street to excuse himself to Marie, and
explain the mistake, and ordered the officer to place her and her maid
in the best house in the city. I stayed with him. After supper, as
soon as we were alone, I gave him the story of my adventures.

He shook his head. "That's all very well; but why will you marry? As
an officer and a comrade, I tell you marriage is folly! Now listen to
me. The road to Simbirsk has been swept clean by our soldiers; you can
therefore send the Captain's daughter to your parents tomorrow, and
remain yourself in my detachment. No need to return to Orenbourg; you
might fall again into the hands of the rebels."

I resolved to follow, in part, Zourine's advice. Saveliitch came to
prepare my room for the night. I told him to be ready to set out in