“A Sister of Charity, monsieur.”

“Is it safe from both the police and the brotherhood?”

“Quite, monsieur.”

“Then we could go there. Is it ready for her?”

“I can send on a carriage with a couple of the women.”

“Good; then see to it at once.”

“But if we leave here, there is one thing, monsieur. Have you forgotten—the body of Vastic?”

“Yes, indeed, I had forgotten. Go and see to the other things, and I’ll think what to do.”

It was a prickly problem in truth. To leave it at Brabinsk appeared out of the question; to bury it and try to hush the thing up equally impossible; and to take it with us to the city more hazardous than either. He threatened to be as much trouble to us dead as alive, and I smoked a cigar and tried to think the thing out.

My intention was to make a clean breast of the matter to Kalkov, leaving him and his police to do what they liked; and I did not doubt they would find little difficulty in arranging matters.