“We are willing to die for our cause.”
HIS cause was greater than theirs! To Ivan, the name of the czar meant more than life. He began to believe that Prince Zuvor had sent him here for a great purpose.
His master had been different to-night. He had himself enabled Ivan to arrange his disguise. Princely hands had formed the features of the mythical Fritz Bloch upon the countenance of a Russian servant.
In all his thoughts, Ivan exaggerated.
He did not know that it was not his master who had sent him here, but another, a pretended Prince Zuvor.
He did not realize that the purpose of his mission was simply to bring back the bomb, that it might be obtained as evidence against the Reds.
All that his brain could grasp was that these men had threatened the death of Prince Zuvor; that he had been delegated to that task; that if he failed, others would assume the duty.
His loyalty to Prince Zuvor; his mission in the name of the czar. These beliefs dominated Ivan’s mind.
He suddenly realized that he was standing alone; that the members of the group had drawn apart. The meeting would soon be over.
It was then that Ivan Shiskin sprang to mental action. Slowly and deliberately, he turned toward the wall, and adjusted the dial on the bomb.