“You may judge for yourself,” replied Lutoff.
“I already have,” said Peter, suavely. “I judge that you are not warning me so much against certain people, as that you are warning me to beware of the Ataman Zorogoff.”
“If I were you, I would not mix in political matters in this city, Mr. Gordon.”
“You must remember that you are talking to an American officer,” said Peter. “Am I to understand that an officer of the Ataman Zorogoff tells me what I should do or should not do in Chita?”
“I think the Americans wish to avoid trouble with the Ataman,” said Lutoff, with a bland smile.
“That remains to be seen—and is somewhat dependent upon how the Ataman Zorogoff conducts what he is pleased to call his government,” said Peter.
“Do the Americans intend to tell Zorogoff how he shall govern?” Lutoff showed in his face that this was a most important question to the Ataman—it was what Lutoff was seeking for Zorogoff, and Peter knew it.
“They might even do that,” replied Peter. “But it might depend upon the wishes of the bulk of the Russian people in this district.”
Lutoff grinned. “The bulk of the Russian people are behind Zorogoff,” he said.
“According to Zorogoff,” retorted Peter.