“Oh, don’t talk of such horrors, Feodor!” exclaimed Sophie, who had turned somewhat pale, and involuntarily shuddered. “How cold it is! I must go and get a shawl.”
And she rose and went out.
For nearly half an hour she was absent, while Matvyèich and I smoked, drank our whiskys and sodas, and chatted. Then she returned, and together we wished him farewell and bon voyage.
Several weeks passed. Sophie and I, by means of false passports, had journeyed to Moscow. She had decided to run all risks in warning her lover of his impending danger, and had persuaded me to accompany her, in order to allay suspicion. We had taken up our quarters at the Hôtel de Dresde, and frequented the boulevards and summer gardens daily, in order to meet him alone, for we dare not call at the Bureau of Police.
By means only known to the members of our Party we were quickly introduced into the circle of official society, in order that Sophie might complete her mission. One evening we accepted an invitation to dine at the house of a wealthy merchant who lived in the Bolshoi Dmietriefka, having previously ascertained that Feodor Matvyèich was also to be a guest.
His surprise and pleasure were unbounded when we met prior to going in to dinner. Sophie looked bewitching and brilliant in a well-fitting evening gown, with her hair dressed in Grecian fashion; but one thing caused me alarm. She wore in her hair the poisoned ornament.
The dinner party was a large one, and Matvyèich sat between myself and my “sister.” Over the meal we chatted merrily, she explaining how, owing to financial business connected with her late father’s estate, she had been compelled to travel to Russia. After we had joined the ladies in the drawing-room I saw her in earnest conversation with him, and noticed that they presently walked together into an adjoining room, which was unoccupied. From her movements and agitated manner I surmised that the time had come when she intended to warn him, therefore I followed noiselessly, and overheard their conversation.
“Well, ma chère, what is this great secret of yours?” he asked, smiling and balancing himself upon the edge of the table.
“Hush!” she whispered. “Some one may hear us. If they did, it would be fatal.”
“What do you mean? Why all this mystery?”