“It is very possible. But on the other hand he knows that my master is as anxious as I am about those papers.”
“And he may think the Emperor would take the risk. I see. Well, I guess I’ll do it, Prince, but I should like to think it over.”
Prince Kalkov rose at once.
“Naturally. I need only say, monsieur, that you will be doing His Majesty and Russia a service which we shall not forget. Shall I have your decision in the morning?”
“To-night, if you’ll come back, say, in a couple of hours. You won’t find me asleep after all you’ve said.”
He smiled pleasantly, and as he went to the door, said—
“You are just the man I would have chosen for such a task, M. Denver.”
“That remains to be seen,” I replied; “but there’s just one more question, by the by. Which are the countries concerned in those papers?”
He paused and gave me a sharp swift look, which broke to a smile.
“Not the United States, monsieur, but European Powers.”