I looked steadily at him a moment. “I am thinking where I have seen you before,” I said, preparing to make a shot.
“I have not had the pleasure, I am sure,” he replied, with another smile; deprecating this time. He had as many different smiles as a woman. “I do not forget faces and should instantly recognize such a friend of the Count as Mr. Anstruther, if we had met before.”
“I have it,” I exclaimed, banging my hand on the table. “You were in the Police Headquarters when I was arrested and taken there from Solden.”
It was a good guess, and his surprise unmasked him for an instant. “What do you mean, sir?”
“That you are an agent of the Department. Your people arrested me as a conspirator and imprisoned me until my friend, General von Eckerstein, explained the mistake. Count Ladislas Tuleski and I are old friends, and as the General has advised me to leave Warsaw, I did not wish to go away without bidding my friend good-bye. But I suppose you have raided the house, and made it a trap for any one you think you should suspect. Not a nice trick perhaps, but then our English methods differ from yours. Now, how do I stand? Do you wish to repeat the farce of arresting me?”
In view of the ugly incident with the police agent when helping Volna to escape, I was a great deal more anxious about his reply than my easy smile may have led him to believe.
CHAPTER XXII
POLICE METHODS
WE dallied with the question and I thought he was going to repudiate my suggestion; but after a slight pause his manner became official.
“If you recognize me, there is no reason for further concealment. We are in possession of the house and my object was to learn the purpose of your visit. I invite you to tell it me plainly.”
“It is merely personal and private. If I leave Warsaw to-morrow, I shall not have another opportunity to see my friend.”