Satisfied that there was little risk of any immediate violence, I waited calmly for the arrival of Sophia’s colleague, or master.
The head of the Manchurian Syndicate lost no time on the way. Very soon I heard the door open and the familiar voice, with its slightly affected accent, saying,
“Permit me to offer you the expression of my sincere regrets, dear Princess!—And my sincere congratulations,” he added in a more business-like tone, as the door closed again.
A sigh was the only audible response.
“It has cost you something, I can see,” the man’s voice resumed soothingly. “That fact gives you a still stronger claim on our gratitude. I confess I began to fear seriously that you were deceiving us, and that would have been very dangerous.”
Another obscure sound, between a sigh and a sob, from the woman.
“Now we can proceed with light hearts. Within three months from now Russia and Great Britain will be at war. I do not mind answering for it. There was only one man in Europe who could have prevented it, and he lies there!”
“You would have it so! I still say it would have been enough to imprison him somewhere.”
“You talk foolishly, believe me, Princess. A man like that is not to be imprisoned. There is no jailer in the world who would venture to undertake to keep the famous A. V. under lock and key.”