“Assuredly, Mr. Buckland,” replied the man.
“And wheel the gyro-car into the open, away from the fire, or the petrol will explode.”
The Count evidently had not thought of that. The fire had indeed been started by the men of Elbasan, without orders from him, and he had been too much occupied to remember the danger. Fortunately the car was at the rear of the large chamber; the fire was at the front. He ordered the Albanians to beat out the fire, explaining to them that the Inglesi had surrendered, and the siege was at an end.
By this time Maurice had been joined by George and the men of the household. Giulika was almost angry at the turn of events. But Maurice courteously waved aside his expostulations, and, the ladder having been let down, descended to the ground.
“I congratulate you,” said the Count in French, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
“On what, may I ask?” said Maurice.
“First, on the ingenuity of your scheme of travel; now, on your return to your senses. The air is fresher outside; shall we continue our conversation there?”
They went into the open air. At a sign from Rostopchin, George and the members of the household were disarmed as they came one by one down the ladder, the Austrian explaining, in answer to Giulika’s indignant outcry, that the weapons would be returned very soon.
“Now, Monsieur,” said Slavianski when they were outside, “I have wasted so much time that we had better come to business at once. You have a despatch from your Secretary of State?”
“You say so, Monsieur le Comte.”