“I have none.”
“Then we’ll tie you up like the rest of your men,” I answered; and tied up he was. “I shall leave you here,” I told him. “The dog will be on watch if you try any tricks; and you know whether you want another round with him.”
Our victory was complete; and it remained to see how we should use it. Karasch and the others set to work to take the soldiers’ uniforms and put them on, while I tried to think what step to take next. I was in possession of the house; but it seemed as if the real difficulties of the business were only at the beginning.
The noise made during the struggle was so great that I knew the household must have been roused, and while the men were getting into the soldiers’ uniforms, I listened with considerable anxiety for someone to come down to us. No one came, however; and I concluded that those who had been aroused had also been so frightened that they preferred to stop where they were.
The difficulty of the position was increased by my reluctance to see Gatrina or be seen by her, if that could be in any way prevented. My plan was to play his burlesque of arresting her, and not to shew my hand until she was housed safely in the care of the American Minister. To do that I intended one of the four men whom Karasch had brought to act the part of leader; and I trusted that in the confusion and alarm of the arrest, both Karasch and I might manage to pass unnoticed.
I was revolving all this in my thoughts when I heard a movement above stairs, and presently a man’s voice called:
“Is that you, Michel? What’s the matter?”
“Come down,” I called in response; but my voice startled him.
“Who are you?”
“Michel wants you. There is trouble. Come down;” but he would not. Instead of coming he went away; and I heard the low murmur of voices as he spoke with someone else.