“Yes. We knew you were incensed at the Government. We thought you might consider casting in your future with us, and riding into power when the revolution succeeds.”
“Bah!” he cried. “It will never succeed!”
“Had you seen fit to join us,” she continued quickly, “the first business we thought to entrust to you was the freeing of Borodin. We have a large sum of money to be devoted to that purpose. That sum we had decided to put into your hands to be expended as you see fit.”
He did not speak. His fat lids narrowed and his small eyes stared at her with piercing intentness. She waited with stilled breath.
His face suddenly grew dark. “I see!” he breathed between his closed teeth. “Well, madame, your little scheme won’t work!”
Her heart went out of her.
His heavy face had grown malignantly inflamed. “You, and those who sent you, are clever—very clever! And you thought you could bribe me, and get me involved in a plan to free Borodin, eh?”
She could not deny it.
“But I see straight through your plot against me!”
She caught her breath. “Plot against you?” she exclaimed.