I was dead set against the plan: every impulse and instinct protesting, except the desire to help Volna. But that she would be in grievous danger, should there be a rising in the city, was a fact nothing could explain away; and that Ladislas was about the last man in the world to be able to save her in such a crisis appeared no less certain. If anything was to be done, some one capable of taking a practical view of things must do it; and her friends appeared to be a set of most unpractical theorists.
But if I was to do anything, it must be made absolutely plain to Volna that I was acting for Ladislas—to save her for him. Surely a most awkward situation to explain. But he continued to urge me and declared he would leave no doubt in her mind; and at length I yielded, and we started for the Drakonas’ house.
CHAPTER XIX
TURNING THE SCREW
EMBARRASSING as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
She was a complete contrast in appearance to Volna. A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed. She gave me a very frigid bow. “We have of course heard of you from Volna, Mr. Anstruther,” she said; her tone implying that what she had heard was by no means to my credit; and before I could reply, she turned to Ladislas. “Has anything happened that you are here?”
It was plain to see that he was not at ease with her. “Where is Volna?” he asked.
“She is out. You have not brought Mr. Anstruther to see her?” That he would be mad to think of such a thing was her meaning.
“I have decided that she cannot safely remain in the city.”
“Indeed. Why? Or perhaps I should ask this gentleman. You had no such thought when I saw you last.”