For the space of several moments the Czar was silent, considering. When he raised his eyes again, Lord Hastings knew that his better judgment would prevail.
“You are right, my lord,” said the Czar quietly. “Count Blowinski has indeed a large following, though it is my own fault that he has. I have enabled him to obtain it. Why, even now he is in Moscow attending to details of a campaign I have planned that, should it be successful, would be one of the greatest steps toward ending the war that has been taken.”
“And I have no doubt that he is attending to it—in his own way,” said Lord Hastings grimly.
“No doubt whatever,” agreed the Czar with a faint smile. “But now what’s to be done?”
“The thing to do,” said Lord Hastings, “is to catch him in an act of treason; then expose him.”
“Easily said,” returned the Czar. “But how?”
“I may be able to help with an idea,” said Lord Hastings, and continued: “Why not set a man to watch him. Let this man come beneath his eye in some peculiar manner, say, apparently as a German spy himself. Have him arrested by the count’s own men and then let a demand that he see the count, reach the traitor’s ears. Thinking that there has been some word sent him, Blowinski will see the man. Then this man will invent a plausible story, that he may ingratiate himself with the count. Such a story should not be hard to concoct. The rest would be a question of time only. Learning just when the count planned to take his final step, the man could communicate with you and when the time for this step came, you, knowing what he was about to do, would hold the whip hand.”
“A clever idea,” declared the Czar after some consideration, “if I could but lay hands upon the man. He must be one who speaks German like a native German and one whom the count could never, by any chance, have seen before. If I could only find a man equal to such a task!”
“Or men, or boys, sire,” said Frank boldly.
The Czar and Lord Hastings both whirled upon him.