“Then I must go to them at once,” I cried in eagerness, starting up quickly from my chair. “I must speak with them without delay. I demand to do so—in the Tzar’s name.”
The officer bent and whispered some low words into His Excellency’s ear; whereupon the Governor, turning to me with a strange expression upon his coarse countenance, said in a quiet voice:
“I much regret, Mr Trewinnard, but I fear that is impossible—quite impossible!”
Chapter Twenty Five.
Luba Makes a Statement.
“Impossible!” I echoed, staring at the all-powerful official. “Why?”
He shrugged his shoulders, slowly flicked the ash from his cigarette and glanced at the paper which the officer had handed to him.
I saw that beneath the candle-light his heavy features had changed. The diamond upon his finger flashed evilly.