"I been robbed!" yelled Puppsky. "All my papers und evertings it bass been robbed me alretty!"
Raoul shot a contemptuous glance at the chattering pair of Reds: "I haven't bothered about your papers," he said.
"Did I say you done it! No, I did not say you done!" shouted Puppsky. "I see this here Countess hanging around by the room of comrade Wildkatz. What for iss she in this, I ask it? She iss who, perhaps? I think she got my papers also comrade Wildkatz he also believes it——"
"Go and ask her!" said Raoul bluntly.
When they were gone Smith turned from the window where he had been whispering with Clelia:
"It's quite en règle," he said coolly. "The Countess Manntrapp is in the employment of the Siberian government. She came here to get what she wanted and report on these Reds. She left for the Pass an hour ago, on foot."
The unseen web in the center of which I had unwittingly stood for so long suddenly became partly visible to me.
Raoul laughed. "It's really a pity," he remarked to me, "that we can't catch and box up these kings and take them along with us. But Venizelos says no; and he's always right. So we had all better pack up and be on our way."
He went off whistling the "Crack-brain" song. Presently, without noticing me, Thusis turned from the music-box and walked over to where her sister was standing; and I heard her say something about dressing.
I turned away and went silently upstairs to my room, and, closing the door, seated myself.