"I explained matters to his satisfaction. He will not bother you----"

"You are very kind--but it mystifies me greatly. You are in terror of your life in one moment and then suddenly--all is well. And now you go somewhere----?"

"Frau Nisko," said Zoya, ignoring the question, "you were sent out with a message to the telegraph, nicht wahr?"

"It was at Herr Rowland's orders----"

"What was the message?"

"I didn't understand. It was written in a code."

"He wrote it--here?"

"Down stairs in the dining room. It was dangerous to be there. I told him so. But he did not care."

"What did the message say?"

"It was about the price of some second-hand furniture to be shipped to Weingarten."