“And do you believe that you have succeeded in taking a house in Petersburg without his knowledge? You do not know him, I tell you again. He has had you watched every hour of the day while you have been here.”
“Please credit me with a little resource, as well as your friend,” I answered with some slight irritation. “I have no doubt the spies of M. Petrovitch have watched me pretty closely, but they have not been able to watch every person who has come in and out of the hotel. Two of my most capable assistants have been in Petersburg for the last month—since the day you hinted that my life was not quite safe, in fact.”
The woman before me looked completely overwhelmed.
“One of them,” I proceeded with cutting severity, “has taken the house I speak of. The other is watching over my personal safety at this moment.”
The Princess fairly gave way. Sinking on the couch behind her, she exclaimed in a faint voice:
“You are a demon, not a man!”
It was the finest compliment she could have paid me.
“And now,” I said carelessly, “to carry out your admirable little idea.”
The unhappy woman put up her hands, and turned away her head in sheer terror.