A brain was working within the black hood which Ivan Shiskin wore. It was groping for the truth, and its efforts were only partly successful.
It had taken Ivan a while to realize that he was in the midst of Red Agents. When he had fully understood that fact, he had been suddenly summoned, and the bomb had been placed in his possession.
This was where his master came, when he left his home disguised as Fritz Bloch! For months, Ivan had aided Prince Zuvor to disguise himself.
He had wondered why his master had been able to leave the house in safety under that disguise, while the house was being so closely watched.
It never occurred to his loyal mind that Prince Zuvor could be one of these. He was sure that he understood the exact circumstances. His master had been spying on these Reds, through clever use of the disguise.
He had told them that he was a servant of the Russian prince. They had believed him.
Ivan was filled with admiration for his master.
But why had he been sent to-night? Prince Zuvor could have come himself. What were the last words that the prince had told him?
“Go, in the name of the czar!”
That sentence kept repeating itself over and over in his mind; then it became identified with a statement made by the leader of this gang.