"Too late!" the old valet said from the window.
Colonel James had landed. But as he climbed down from his flier, the guards closed a circle about him.
"He'll keep," Pashkov said, hitching up his pants. "Let's be off, Mister Knackenpast. It won't take long for Petchareff to smell us out."
"Look!"
The guards fell back from the flier and snapped to attention. Chewing on his cigar furiously, out stepped Petchareff.
Zubov leaped out next, his big front tooth flashing. Then his two assistants, Petya and Kolya, tumbled out in their coats and hats. Last of all to emerge from the flier was Nadezhda Brunhildova.
"Pretend not to know me, will he?" she yelled at Colonel James, picking up a rock.
"Hold it, citizenress," Colonel James said.
"Citizenress, is it?" The rock flew over his head and felled Zubov.
"I warned you both, no kitchen squabbles while on duty," Petchareff roared. He snapped an order to the lieutenants of guards, and the guards surrounded the house.