"I allow no man to understand my mind, my purposes," the Count answered.
"Certainly, your lordship," assented the little man meekly; "only your lordship doubtless sees that—that I am handicapped. I don't think I'm a fool," he added; "I am as faithful as a dog, and as secret as the grave."
"You want to know more than that," replied Romanoff harshly.
Polonius Slyme was silent.
"You want to know who I am," continued the Count. "You have been puzzled because I, who am known as a Russian, should interest myself in this man Faversham, and up to now you, in spite of the fact that you've hunted like a ferret, have found out nothing. More than that, you cannot think why I fastened on you to help me, and, cunning little vermin that you are, you stopped at nothing to discover it."
"But only in your interest," assented the little man eagerly; "only because I wanted to deserve the honour you have bestowed upon me."
"I am disposed to be communicative," went on the Count; "disposed to make something of a confidante of you. Of my secret mind, you, nor no man, shall know anything, but I will let you know something."
Polonius Slyme drew nearer his master and listened like a fox. "Yes, your lordship," he whispered.
"Look here, Polonius, you have just told me that you are a man of brains: suppose that you wanted to get a strong man in your power, to make him your slave, body and soul, what would you do? Suppose also that you had great, but still limited power, that your knowledge was wide, but with marked boundaries, how would you set to work?"
"Every man has his weaknesses," replied Polonius. "I should discover them, fasten upon them, and make my plans accordingly."