“Everything is altered now. I go back to my former plan. We can stay here until it is safe to leave—since we know these men are dogging us, daylight will probably be the safest; and we will get to the Emperor when you are safely concealed in the city.”
I had too much to live for now to care about putting my life to the hazard in the way I had purposed in my mood of desperation. It was once more my desire now to make the men believe that I was indeed the Emperor, so that the pursuit of me should cease the instant I could get back to the Palace.
But my plans were still fated to be thwarted.
“I can only make out two men, monsieur; but there may be many others hidden close by,” said Ivan, returning.
“We can at any rate speak to them. Call a couple of the men to be ready at hand in case of need,” I told him; and in that way like a fool played into their hands.
Ivan at my bidding went to the door and called through it—
“Who is there?”
“We are police. Open.”
This was either a very ugly new development or a lie. I chose to regard it as the latter.
“What do you want?” was Ivan’s next question.