He smiled.

He had hoped, when he left America, to see the Czar before his return.

There was small chance of that now, even though they were in the same town.
The Russians delayed as little as had the Germans in bringing him to trial.

And here in Grodno there was even less ceremony than there had been in the dining-room of the East Prussian parsonage.
A young officer was assigned to defend him, but he took the task as a joke.
"You'll be condemned, of course," he said.

"Prince Mikail knows you are a spy.