INTRODUCTION 3 



and was then ordered to be sent to Russia. Knowing 

 something of what torture awaited me there, and finding 

 friends in the prison who were in communication with 

 friends outside, I determined to make my escape.' 



How did you manage that? 



' The bars of my cell had been cut, and hearing the 

 signal agreed upon, I emerged from the window, and 

 found it not too difficult a matter to leap to the parapet, 

 then to the bastion, to another parapet, to a bastion below, 

 and so on until I had descended low enough to make the 

 plunge into the river. Swimming about 4000 yards, I 

 reached the opposite side just as the signal gun gave voice 

 that a prisoner had escaped. 



' As I reached the shore a friend seized my hand and ran 

 with me to a carriage in waiting. Dry clothing, food and 

 brandy had been provided, but we tarried not. The good 

 horses flew over the ground toward Bavaria, and once over 

 its friendly borders I was again a free man.' 



Did you remain long in Bavaria ? 



' Not long. As soon as I had rested I went to Switzer- 

 land, where I was waited on by emissaries from Alexander, 

 who offered to restore to me my entire property — which he 

 had confiscated — and all my other rights, if I would swear 

 to bend the knee to him and become once more his body- 

 guard. But I loved my freedom too well to put it again in 

 jeopardy. Knowing that even now these messengers of the 

 Emperor had secret power to enforce his commands, I 

 asked for a few hours in which to arrange some affairs. 

 Fancying that they had met with less opposition than they 

 expected, they readily and courteously acceded to my 

 request. I wasted no time, but escaping from the house, 

 reached the railroad station just as the fast train towards 



