“And chiefly as a spy to see that I do go, you mean.”
“He will of course report to me.”
“And if I refuse?” I asked, when I could force myself to speak without anger.
“I hope you will not refuse, because if you are still in Russia when the man Vastic’s death is investigated—and time in that matter presses, of course—it will be very difficult, I fear, to avoid your being implicated.” The perfect command he had over his expression and tone aggravated me almost as much as what he said.
“I will make a condition on my side—that Mademoiselle Helga Boreski be allowed to leave the country at the same time.”
“Mademoiselle Helga Lavalski, you mean?”
I nearly broke my teeth as I clenched them at this.
“I have said whom I mean.”
“Well, there are two objections. You know her story of course, and so do I—now. She is, as you are aware, unwilling to leave until she has ruined me for some fancied wrong; and she is a dangerous Nihilist, with whom the authorities can have no dealings except in the usual legal way. She will go to the mines, as I told you, if we deal with her.”
“And if you have found her, perhaps,” I cried with a sneer.