been very guilty," continued he, "but I have pardoned you, for having
done me a kindness, when I was obliged to hide from my enemies. I
shall load you with favors, when I shall have regained my empire. Do
you promise to serve me with zeal?"

The bandit's question and impudence made me smile.

"Why do you laugh?" said he, frowning, "do you not believe that I am
the great Czar? Answer frankly."

I was troubled. I could not recognize a vagabond as the emperor; to
call him an impostor to his face was to doom myself to death; and the
sacrifice which I was ready to make under the gibbet that morning,
before all the people, in the first flush of indignation, seemed now
a useless bravado. Pougatcheff awaited my answer in fierce silence.
At last (I still remember with satisfaction that duty triumphed over
human weakness) I replied to Pougatcheff.

"I will tell you the truth and let you decide. Should I recognize you
as the Czar, as you are a man of intelligence, you would see that I am
lying."

"Then who am I? in your opinion."

"God knows, but whoever you are, you are playing a dangerous game."

Pougatcheff gave me a sharp, quick glance. "You do not believe that I
am the emperor, Peter III? Be it so. Have not bold men succeeded
before me and obtained the crown? Think what you please about me, but
stay with me. What matters it whom you serve? Success is right.