Ivanovitch picked up his coat and hat from a chair and held the front door open for me, and together we went down to the car. Niko had disappeared, but, to my surprise, another man sat in the driving seat. Naturally I looked him over pretty sharply. And then I started in my turn, For the face of Ivanovitch’s new driver was quite familiar to me. He was one of the two men who had been with Vining the day he caught me burgling his flat!
A wave of feeling went through me as I stepped into the car. It was compounded of hope and delight. I hoped the man would not recognize me because of the mask I wore that night. But I was tremendously elated. For here was final proof positive that I was on the right track. Vining and Ivanovitch, Mrs. Fawcette and the rest of the bunch of Russians were all in the same gang then. And the orgies of Vining’s stories to Moore must be the orgies of Ivanovitch’s stories to me. At last I was on my way to the headquarters of the gang.
Ivanovitch stepped in after me and closed the door. As he sat down beside me he laughed softly. “I thought afterwards that it would be so dull for us both if I drove,” he observed. “So I sent for the chauffeur after all. You see, some one would have to ride with you anyway, to be sure you did not look out to find how and whither we were going.”
“What a mystery!” I laughed. “It’s like the Arabian Nights.”
“Ye‑es,” he drawled; “quite like, indeed.”
The car started smoothly away from the curb, and Ivanovitch leaned forward and pressed a button half concealed by the rug rack. To my amazement, shutters tolled silently up over all the windows and we were in total darkness. A moment later an electric globe flashed on overhead and I turned to find the amused eyes of my guide on me. “Neat, isn’t it?” he inquired.
“But it is all marvelous,” I answered in a delighted tone. “Judging by the efficiency of your preparations, these must be a wonderful lot of evenings. How long a drive is it, if you can tell me so much?”
He shook his head, smiling still. “Not even that, my friend. I am sure you would not give us away; but you see we make a rule to trust no one, and we stick to it. It’s a pretty good plan, don’t you think so?”
“Yes, indeed,” I answered. “But then you must be one of the organizers or officers or charter members, or whatever you call it?”
Ivanovitch did not seem to take to that question. At all events he did not answer it. And we drove along for some time after that in silence. Presently, however, he started another topic of conversation and we chatted pleasantly enough.