“Lost!” Leshkin sneered. “That is good — and you say that your friend, the American, after coming six thousand miles to spend one hour in Romanovsk, decided to run away when he was only a little twelve miles from his destination?”
“Well, if he hadn’t he’d be here with us,” Simon parried.
“So — then he has passed the secret on to you — is it not?”
“Secret? What secret?” said Simon, vaguely.
“Mr. Aron, you make me laugh.” Leshkin sat back and slapped his stomach with his fat hands. His laughter was not good to hear. “What do you take me for — a fool?”
“Oh, no,” Simon assured him, earnestly. “I wouldn’t do that!”
“Does it not occur to you as strange that I should be waiting for you here?”
“I was never so surprised in my life.”
Leshkin nodded heavily. “I have followed your movements since you left Moskawa with great interest, Mr. Aron. Last night I was informed that Van Ryn had escaped from Tobolsk. Of your stealing the sleigh in Turinsk I already knew; it was not unreasonable to suppose that by this evening you would be here. I left Moskawa by aeroplane in time to meet you — that is all! Come now — you have the secret, let us not waste time.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about” Simon shook his head.