He seemed suspicious of my intentions, for he hung back, but one is always tempted to suppose that others may divine such thoughts. So I fooled around with some of my clothes, and then called him to help me move a bag. I got him near enough to the bedstead, and then with a significant look I said—
“You have a good heart, I can see that. Now, assuming I am like one of your brother’s caged birds, will you help me out?”
“Monsieur, I dare not, I dare not.”
But he neither called out nor attempted to get away. Instead, he fixed his eyes on mine, and there was no fear in them.
“I will make it worth your while,” I said firmly. “Come.”
“Oh, monsieur, if it were found out. I am sorry for you; but if it were found out.”
“It won’t be. We’ll fix that all right,” I answered. “Listen. I intend to escape by the window there, drop on the roof below, and from there to the ground.”
“Oh, monsieur, monsieur, I dare not,” he cried.
“I shall give you five hundred roubles to help me.”
His eyes gleamed avariciously.