"Who told you so?"
"Olga Paulowna, my sister, who yesterday saw you at Krejko."
"True, I remember. Now listen, old friend and comrade——"
"Hush, the girl is within and may hear you."
"Well," said Podatchkine, lowering his voice, while the other extinguished his torch, half closed the door of his hut, and drew nearer the speaker, "by order of General Weymarn, Governor of St. Petersburg, General of the Cavalry, Director-General of the Canals, Bridges, and Highways——"
"And the devil knows all what more!" said the other impatiently. "Well?"
"I am ordered to guide this Carl Ivanovitch Balgonie, who is a stranger, to the gates of Schlusselburg, as he bears to Bernikoff a dispatch of importance; but I have been promised a heavy sum——"
"Ah! how much say you?"
"I have said nothing yet."
"But you spoke of a heavy sum."