The captain bowed and withdrew.
“Quick!” breathed the countess. “Order me a sleigh!”
“What for?”
“Order first. Then I’ll explain. A sleigh with one horse—and not too fast—and no driver.”
The prince took up the telephone from his desk and gave the order.
“Now, tell me.”
“He has fallen right into my trap!” the countess whispered. “He has found out where Borodin is—but no more.”
“Then he does not guess——”
“No. I quizzed him about you,” she went on rapidly. “He thinks you are only what you pretend to be. Here’s my plan. He’s going to fly at once with his information. I am going to take him with me in the sleigh. We’re confederates, you know. You discover that some papers have been stolen—by whom, you have no idea. You have the robbers pursued. We shall go toward the railroad station. You must give orders that I am not to be hurt. As for him——”
“Oh, I shall give the right orders for him!” said the prince grimly. “And when we discover who the dead man is I shall be properly horrified at the terrible mistake. But they will all see it was the fault of his own rashness.”