“You have done well, count,” declared Jack. “But your man may slip through. Take me or my friend for example. We both carry passports signed by yourself. Why not another?”
“Because, besides the passports held by yourselves, I have signed no other.”
“Then your plans are in no danger,” said Jack briefly.
“Of course not. But the reason I have disturbed you to-night is that I would give you the privilege of being on my staff when I go to meet the Czar to-morrow.”
“I shall be delighted, count, and I thank you for your thoughtfulness. It will give me pleasure. But, by the way, count, supposing the Czar comes in force?”
“Ah, but he will not.”
“You cannot be positive on that score. He may send thousands of troops ahead of his special train. How many men can you count on?”
“Enough, I believe. Say five thousand.”
“Hardly enough to seize the Czar if he comes properly attended,” said Jack dryly.
“It is enough,” protested the count. “It must be enough. I cannot fail now. To do so would lose me favor with the German emperor, as you know. And I should be discredited here. There would be nothing left for me in Russia.”