Nicolayeff reeled. It almost seemed as if he was suddenly seized with palsy, and he uttered a strange, half-choked cry as he sank to the ground in a swoon. Perhaps in his superstitious mind he really thought the bearded man was the Evil One. A policeman approached. The bearded man whispered something in his ear and disappeared. The policeman blew a whistle, and assistance came. Then Nicolayeff was carried to the station, and when he recovered from the swoon he found himself a prisoner. In the meantime a message had been sent to the Foreign Office to say that the Clerk of the Keys had been picked up in the street in a swoon, and was then in custody. The message was conveyed direct to the Prince.
Three days passed, and Danevitch again presented himself at the Prince’s bureau.
‘Have you any news, Prince?’ he asked.
‘A code telegram was sent to Kasin recalling him.’
‘Is he in Russia?’
‘I don’t know. He has not answered.’
‘Ah, I suspected that would be the case.’
‘I await your revelation,’ said the Prince calmly.
‘It is here,’ answered Danevitch, as he took a letter from his pocket-book and handed it to the Prince. ‘Shall I retire while you read it?’
The Prince glanced at the handwriting, and became very agitated.