"Not long, Peter. I came yesterday. I have a letter for you."

"Where is it?" I cried, delighted.

"Here," replied Maxim, putting his hand in his bosom. "I promised
Polacca to try and give it to you." He gave me a folded paper, and
set off on a gallop. I read with agitation the following lines:

"By the will of God I am deprived of my parents, and except you, Peter,
I know of no one who can protect me; Alexis commands in place of my
late father. He so terrified Father Garasim that I was obliged to go
and live at our house, where I am cruelly treated by Alexis. He will
force me to become his wife. He says he saved my life by not betraying
the trick of passing for the niece of Accoulina. I could rather die
than be his wife. I have three days to accept his offer; after that I
need expect no mercy from him. O, Peter! entreat your General to send
us help, and if possible, come yourself. MARIE MIRONOFF."

This letter nearly crazed me. I rushed back to the city, not sparing
the spur to my poor horse. A thousand projects flashed through my mind
to rescue her. Arrived in the city, I hurried to the General's and ran
into his room. He was walking up and down smoking his meerschaum.
Seeing me he stopped, alarmed at my abrupt entrance.

"Your Excellency, I come to you, as to my own father; do not refuse me;
the happiness of my life depends upon it."

"But what is it?" said the General; "what can I do for you?"