"Certainly, Professor! It was thus. You remember, don't you, that I
came to your house as usual, five days ago, for my lessons in English?
And you know the sudden bombardment, so close to the city, was so
terrible that you would not let me go home? Good! Then you understand
all, up to this morning. You know we had watched all night with the
doors barricaded, and we decided it was too unsafe to remain longer in
the direct path of those brutal soldiers. So we prepared to come here,
to one of my father's buildings where there is a chute and an
underground storeroom where we could be safe.

"You send me for this cloak and when I returned, what did I find in the
room where I had left everyone of the household gathered ready for the
flight? The room was empty. I had been upstairs perhaps ten minutes
because I could not find my cloak, and there was the room empty. Sir,
I was furious at you for leaving me. I am in your charge; I am a
Prince; yet you left me --"

The tall boy turned from the window and spoke.

"Never mind that, Ivan," he said. "Just cut that all out and hustle to
the part you haven't told." Although he spoke English, while Ivan told
his story in Russian, the boys understood each other perfectly for with
a frown and quick glance, the boy Ivan nodded and continued.

"I stood for a while and listened but heard nothing. Then I went
through the other rooms on the floor, and all were empty. I decided to
get to the warehouse alone if I could, and crept to the door. I drew
back hastily. A horrible old woman squatted on the step. She was
watching over two great sacks full, no doubt, of valuables stolen from