We stood staring intently dead into each other's eyes; and he stretched forward a hand to summon those who would carry out his threat.
Then he breathed deeply, smiled, and offered me his hand instead.
"By God, you're the man we want, in all truth. Now, I'll tell you what you ask."
He had only been testing me after all, and my wits were so blunt in my agitation that I had not seen through him.
"Have no fear for your sister," he continued. "She is quite safe. My man gave that Devinsky a message when he was leaving that puts all doubt on that score aside. She is part of our bargain, and the arm of the State is over her. If you accept my offer at once, your sister herself shall decide that man's punishment. My object in all this is twofold—to let you feel something of the substance of power that will be yours when you have consented; and secondly to test a little more thoroughly your staunchness. I am satisfied, Lieutenant. And I hope you are."
"Where is my sister now?" I asked, after a moment's consideration.
"Where you left her, of course. Decide how you wish her to come to Moscow. Shall my men fetch her? Shall that man bring her back himself? Or will you ride out. It is a matter of the merest form—but as yet, of course, you are unaccustomed to your influence and power."
He was the devil at tempting; and though he had told me his motive, and I knew the rank impossibility of doing what he wanted—I could not help a little thrill of pleasure at the consciousness that this power lay within my grasp.
"I will ride out and bring her in myself," I said, with a flush of pleasant anticipation at the thought.
"As you will. This will do everything," he said, as he wrote me an order in the name of the Emperor. I knew its power well enough. "One condition, by the by. You must not fight this Devinsky; nor do anything to provoke a fight."