2 MY HORSE ; MY LOVE 



As he had promised to tell us the ' why and wherefore ' 

 of his residence in America, with a final poke at the fire 

 the little war of question and reply began. 



THE COUNT. 



You have promised, Count, to give us some particulars 

 of your life in Russia. Since you were born in Poland, did 

 you serve in the Russian army by choice ? 



' Poland being subject to Russia, I had no choice but 

 to serve in the Russian army. It would be a life-long 

 reproach to his courage and patriotism, if a nobleman, 

 born in Poland, without physical deformity, and strong in 

 limb and wind, should fail to devote some years of his life 

 to military service. He would be stripped of his title of 

 nobility, and could arrive at no personal distinction of an 

 honourable character. 



' Then also Poland is a nation of soldiers, the govern- 

 ment being controlled by old soldiers rather than by 

 statesmen. Although diplomacy in foreign countries is 

 studied as are the learned professions, in Poland it must 

 be learned through the use of the sword, by military rule 

 and suggestion. A man must at least prove himself a 

 brave soldier before he can serve the government as a 

 diplomatist, or in any other capacity.' 



Then you joined the Polish insurrection against 

 Russia ? 



' It was Poland that I loved, my own country, and it was 

 my duty to fight for her, and my pleasure also. We longed 

 for liberty, and fought for it desperately. But Russia is a 

 powerful nation, and we were outnumbered. I was thrown 

 into an Austrian prison, where I remained four months, 



