“You do not credit me with much good faith,” he said bitterly.
“If you held my life in your hands would you put the weapon into mine and expect me to kill myself?”
“Yet you expect me to credit you.”
“You cannot help yourself. Besides, I have gone straight. I am not a Russian diplomatist.”
“Will you tell me where those papers are?”
“Will I put my head in a noose and hand you the loose end?”
“How do I know that you have them?”
“I tell you so. My word is enough; but you know pretty well I shouldn’t have ventured here if I had not had them?”
“You came expecting to see the Emperor?”
“And should have forced my way to him just now—if I hadn’t known that, having them, it was safe to trust myself with you.”