“A mere friendly call? At such an hour as this? On one of the leaders of the conspiracy which is threatening the whole city?”
“It is no novel experience for me to make a statement which at the time is not believed by the agents of your Department and to have the truth proved later.”
“Where have you come from?”
“I dined at the Hotel Vladimir about a couple of hours ago; since then I have been in the streets.”
“Also for private and personal purposes?”
“I am an Englishman and always interested in watching the results of misgovernment. A mere personal interest, of course.”
He liked this no better than I intended. “Your visit here to-night is full of suspicion, sir, and the account of your movements very difficult to believe.”
“In England such a remark would be treated as an impertinence; but there we manage matters differently, and even police officials speak the language of courtesy.”
“This is not England,” he said with a sneer.
“Thank God that at least is true. But all the same, need we ruffle one another’s tempers? I am ready to do what you wish, I can’t help myself, of course.”