My fear of him turned to frenzy: I thought him endowed with supernatural powers. My room seemed to be filled with innumerable Prilukoffs peering out at me from every corner. I clung to Elise. “We must go away, we must go away to-morrow,” I whispered. “Do you understand?”
“Yes, madame,” was Elise's firm and humble reply.
“Send to fetch little Tioka; send for him at once.”
“Yes, madame.”
Later, while she was dressing me, she stooped to draw on my stocking—Prilukoff was reading in the adjoining room—and she murmured:
“We have no money to travel with.”
“You must ask Count Kamarowsky for some; he will give you all we want,” I whispered.
“Not without asking what it is for. We shall need a great deal.”
“Oh, Elise, think, think of something,” I sighed, and felt myself turning faint.
“What are you two mumbling and plotting?” growled Prilukoff's voice from the adjoining room.