Petr' Andréjïtch, you are my only stay. Defend me, a poor girl. Beg the
General and all your superiors to send us help as soon as possible, and
come yourself if you can.

"I remain, your submissive orphan,

"MARYA MIRONOFF."

I almost went mad when I read this letter. I rushed to the town,
spurring without pity my poor horse. During the ride I turned over in my
mind a thousand projects for rescuing the poor girl without being able
to decide on any. Arrived in the town I went straight to the General's,
and I actually ran into his room. He was walking up and down, smoking
his meerschaum pipe. Upon seeing me he stood still; my appearance
doubtless struck him, for he questioned me with a kind of anxiety on the
cause of my abrupt entry.

"Your excellency," said I, "I come to you as I would to my poor father.
Do not reject my request; the happiness of my whole life is in
question."

"What is all this, my father?" asked the astounded General. "What can I
do for you? Speak."

"Your excellency, allow me to take a battalion of soldiers and fifty
Cossacks, and go and clear out Fort Bélogorsk."

The General stared, thinking, probably, that I was out of my senses; and
he was not far wrong.