CHAPTER XXVII
THE PLAN PROSPERS
IF Bremenhof had been less of a coward such a plan as ours would have been absolutely impossible. But the sight of the mob’s fury had so saturated him with fear that it bereft him of the power to make even a show at resistance.
I did my utmost to play on that terror. During the short ride, I sat opposite to him, holding in full sight the revolver which had already done us such conspicuous service; and when we reached our destination I linked my left arm in his as I walked him into the house, taking care that he should see I still held the weapon ready for use.
What I should really have done had he made an effort to escape I don’t know; but I am sure I had convinced him that I should shoot. That fear of me made him my slave. He watched my every gesture, started nervously when I looked at him, and flinched whenever I spoke.
As soon as we were in the house I set him to work to write the official declaration that he had investigated the charges against Volna, and had found them unfounded; and then the full statement of the part he had played throughout.
Volna meanwhile called up the servant at their house, and having ascertained that no police were in possession there, told the girl how to call us up the instant that Madame Drakona should reach home.
There was nothing more to be done but to wait for that message. I left Volna and Ladislas together and remained with Bremenhof.
The extent to which he was subject to my influence during the hours in that house was remarkable. To me quite unaccountable indeed. He was as docile as though I had possessed hypnotic power and had used it to subdue him.
With the revolver always carefully in hand I sat and stared at him steadily, sternly, continuously in one long, tense, dead silence. I concentrated all my thoughts upon the one essential object, to force the conviction upon him that death would be the instant penalty of resistance to my will.
Twice only was the silence broken. Once when he showed me what he had written and I ordered an alteration; and once at the close when I asked him how he was going to get for me the evidence against Madame Drakona.