Framed by the doorway and shone upon by the lamplight from within, they beheld the black-clothed figure, the statuesque, colourless face and the inscrutable eyes of M. Karovsky.
"Karovsky--you!" cried Gerald as he sprang forward.
"Yes, I--why not?" said the Russian with a smile, as he raised his hat and came forward.--"Ladies, your servant." Then to Gerald: "You stare at me, mon ami, as if I had just come back from Hades. But this is scarcely the hand of a revenant, if I may be allowed an opinion in the matter."
"It seems incredible that you should have found me out in this place," answered Gerald as the two shook hands.
"Incredible? Peuh! I had need to see you; and I am here."
"Will you not be seated?"
As Karovsky drew up a chair, Clara made a sign to her aunt, and the two ladies passed out through the folding-doors into the room beyond.
"Pardon," said the Russian as he glanced around, "but this place seems scarcely a fit home either for madame or yourself."
"You know that I am in hiding; you doubtless also know that a large reward is offered for my capture?"--The other nodded.--"While such is the case, it is impossible for me to touch a penny of my income. My wife's aunt has lost her property by a bank failure. We are very poor, Karovsky; but there are worse ills in life than poverty."
"Part of my errand to-night is to tell you that I have instructions to place certain funds at your disposal. You can leave this place tomorrow, if it please you so to do."