The Prince bit his lips savagely and sneered.
“It is good of you to name your conditions.”
“If I didn’t, how could you comply with them?”
“Perhaps you have some others?”
“Certainly I have. The next is the immediate release of Mademoiselle Helga Boreski—or Lavalski, whichever name you prefer. When that trap of yours for me failed—and only an accident caused the failure, for it took me in completely; you may like to know that—I went to the Mademoiselle and told her your intentions in regard to her, warned her and assisted her in attempting to fly. Your quick swoop on the place afterwards—a fact we had not counted on—broke up our plans, and she was arrested. I tell you of the mistakes we made in regard to you, so that you may feel perfectly sure I have not made any miscalculations now.”
“By your own admission, you aided the escape of this Nihilist leader. You are frank, monsieur.”
“Except that she is not a Nihilist leader, but your personal enemy, you are quite right. I admit I helped her to get away. I went with her, of course, as you now know.”
My frankness was having precisely the effect upon him which I calculated. He felt I should not make a number of hazardous admissions if I had not some strong cause.
“You must, of course, be held answerable for this; even my desire to save you would be useless in the face of this,” he said, for all the world as though he were my best friend and protector.
“I am ready right here and now. But about Mademoiselle’s release?” I asked when he paused.