The carriage started off and Catherine turned to the Prime Minister.
“Who is this man, Vasilas?” she enquired curiously.
“He is a revolutionary,” the Prime Minister replied, “a man who stirs up trouble wherever he goes. The troops have my instructions to shoot him on sight, but some are so stupid they appear not to recognise him.”
He glared at Captain Petlos as he spoke. Then obviously feeling it would be undignified to rebuke him in front of strangers he said in a more genial tone,
“But you need not be afraid, Lady Catherine. I assure you that as soon as we arrive at the Palace the Field Marshal will order the man to be found, wherever he is hiding. Then we shall hear no more of him.”
Theola glanced from under her eyelashes at Captain Petlos. She could see he was looking very pale an
