"Then you must know that my country has changed in nothing but a name. Instead of monarchy we have oligarchy--a band of men bent upon usurping the rights of the people. The people of Russia are drunk with freedom and accept the new order of things because they think it is what they have long fought for. But the men now in power in the Provisional Government are not to be trusted--capitalists, bureaucrats, the enemies of----"
"You are a Socialist Democrat, then, Monsieur?" put in Rowland.
"A friend of Russia's freedom--call me by whatever name you please."
Khodkine shrugged and blew a cloud of smoke.
"You mean that there are still those in power who are in sympathy with Germany?" asked Rowland.
Khodkine rose and walked the length of the room while Rowland watched him keenly.
"What else? Is it not clear to you?"
"I am perhaps dull, Monsieur," said Rowland, vacuously. "Rasputin is dead. The Czarina has gone. In them you will admit the fountain heads of German intrigue have been destroyed."
"Diverted, let us say, Monsieur--upon the surface. But the evil stream still flows--secretly, below the ground, to appear in high places where least expected."
Rowland rose and threw his cigarette into the hearth.