He beckoned as he arose, and Cliff walked by his side.
They left the living room and crossed the hall. The door to the wing was open. With a bow, the huge Russian ushered Cliff into the forbidden territory.
Cliff restrained his enthusiasm. While he had been thinking of a visit here, he had not hoped to make it so soon. He looked about him as they passed the second door, and pretended to view the corridor as though he had come into it for the first time.
"There iss something strange for you to see," declared Orlinov. "It iss not here. It iss on the floor up above. Come."
They reached the stairs and went up to the second story. There Orlinov stopped before a closed door. Cliff noticed something now that be had not observed before, when he had been in haste to travel through the passage. This door — as well as the others on the floor — was fitted with a cross-shaped paneling that had a square center.
"Look."
Orlinov pronounced the word like the name Luke. Cliff was too interested to even notice the tone of the voice.
The Russian's finger was on the square center of the panel. A slight press, and the square dropped, revealing a small pane of glass. At Orlinov's bidding, Cliff peered within. He saw a beautifully furnished room — apparently one of a suite, for there was an open door beyond it. The room was carpeted with thick Oriental rugs. A huge bookcase stood filled with massive volumes.
The furniture was of heavy mahogany.
These features were of small interest to Cliff. His eyes were focused upon the inhabitant of the apartment. An elderly man was seated at a writing desk, tracing lines upon a sheet of paper. He appeared to have no interest in his surroundings. His face was long and solemn, his eyes dreary and dull. Orlinov drew Cliff away from the opening. He closed the panel. He beckoned, and Cliff followed him to another door. Here a panel dropped, and Cliff viewed another room, less elegant in its furnishings. This room also contained an occupant. He was a foreigner, a large-headed man with a bushy beard that bristled like a black brush.