“I didn’t know you had spoken to him yet.”
“How should you, little one? But I have promise you that I will ’elp you find your frien’, and I ’ave succeeded!”
“But — er — what did Leshkin want?”
She smiled, though tears were brightening her eyes. “That I promise ’im that you leave Moskawa tomorrow, and not return!”
For a time they sat silent; both had known that in any case Simon’s stay in Moscow must be limited, but each had put that thought firmly at the back of their minds. And now the moment had come it found them utterly unprepared in the first mad rush of their passion for each other.
“You can come to London,” he said at last, suddenly brightening.
“Not for a long time, Galoubchick, it is so recent since I ’ave been there — the Soviet do not like their artistes to go to other countries. Besides, I ’ave my duty to the Russian people. My art is not of myself — it belongs to them!”
“I could meet you in Berlin.”
“Perhaps — we will see, but tell me, what will you do about your frien’?”
“Apply for his release or public trial, through his Embassy,” Simon suggested, but he had little faith in the idea.