"Which Your Excellency has no doubt heard of."
"Oh, yes—Maxim's."
"My gun exploded—but noiselessly, Excellency, because of the silencer—just as the strange man jumped at me. The—ah—person fell, and I ran. The strange man followed and caught me. I fought, but he knew where to hit; and when I awoke I was alone with the—person—who had, most unfortunately, been killed when the gun went off. I came back and—" he glanced at the one who had been called Wratslav—"he came with me."
The Minister looked inquiringly toward the dapper man, who then took up the story.
"We thought it better to dispose of the—person, Excellency, and avoid—"
"Exactly. You did well. That will do, Ivan. You may return to your duties."
The man arose and went toward the door, but the Minister stopped him.
"One moment, Ivan. Do you think we could find the other?—the man who struck you?"
"I think his face, or hands, or arms, would be marked by the gun fire, Excellency."
"Thank you, Ivan."