“Yes; and if my plans do not miscarry I shall be master of Moscow before the sun has set—and within the month Russia will have declared peace with Germany.”
“That is indeed good news,” declared Jack. “But you are sure there is no danger of your plans going wrong?”
“That,” said the count, “is why I have stopped in your room to-night.”
For a brief moment Jack’s heart stood still and he thought to himself:
“Can he have discovered anything?” Aloud he said: “I shall be glad to do anything in my power for the cause.”
“I was sure of it,” said the count, and Jack’s fears fled. “Now the situation is this: To-night we—myself and the men who are with me in this undertaking—held a meeting, where I gave my instructions to proceed with the coup to-day. Just after I declared the meeting adjourned, I decided that I would have a look at the face of every man present. They were passing before me when there was a shot and the light went out. A fight followed. There were two spies in the meeting.”
“You don’t tell me!” exclaimed Jack. “And have you any idea how they gained admittance?”
“Not the slightest.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter, I suppose,” said Jack deprecatingly. “They are dead now, aren’t they?”
“No,” said Count Blowinski slowly; “that is the trouble; they escaped.”