"Ah--and you trusted Fräulein Korasov?"
"Implicitly."
Liederman laughed and tapped Rowland playfully upon the knee.
"Ach--a little tenderness in that quarter, nicht wahr?"
This was for Zoya's benefit, but the heaviness of his humor made his intention rather pathetic.
"Fräulein Korasov was kind to me. She fed me when I was starved. I could hardly show anything but gratitude," said Rowland quietly.
"What assurance can you give me that her intentions were honest?" asked Liederman.
The man was so dull. But Rowland kept his patience admirably.
"Merely this--that Fräulein Korasov sought to prevent the very thing that has happened. She distrusted Monsieur Khodkine."
"Ach, so. That is the one bond we all have in common. But Herr Khodkine is clever. If he has high authority for this game he is playing, we will be at our wits' end to circumvent him."