“Sergius Hertzen.”
As the words rang through the place I started. I had not seen Vera’s uncle since our marriage, as he went to Zurich immediately afterwards.
There was a shuffling near the door, and the old man entered. As he mounted the steps to the witness-box I noticed he had aged considerably.
“What are you, Mr Hartzen?” Mr Paget asked, referring to his brief at the same moment.
“Police agent.”
“And your nationality?”
“Russian.”
The old man a police agent! Dumbfounded, I looked blankly around me.
“You are father of the previous witness?”
“I am.”