hose, conduct me to the frontier
or give me twenty-four hours' notice to quit Russia, as they had to Von
Eckhardt, and that was the very last thing I desired just now.

"Good evening, gentlemen," I said amiably. "You seem to be pretty busy
here. Can I give you any assistance?"

I spoke in French, as I didn't want to air my Russian for their
edification, though I had improved a good deal in it.

One of them, who seemed boss, looked up and said brusquely, though not
exactly uncivilly: "Ah, Monsieur, you have returned somewhat sooner than
we expected. We have a warrant to search your apartment."

"That's all right; pray continue, though I give you my word you won't
find anything treasonable. I'm a foreigner, as of course you know; and I
haven't the least wish or intention to mix myself up with Russian
affairs."

"And yet you correspond with the Grand Duke Loris," he said dryly.

"I don't!" I answered promptly. "I've never written a line to that
gentleman in my life, nor he to me."

"There are other ways of corresponding than by writing," he retorted. I
guessed I had been watched to the cafe after all, but I maintained an
air of innocent unconcern, and, after all, his remark might be merely a
"feeler." I rather think now that it was. One can never be sure how much
the Russian Secret Police do, or do not, know; and one of their pet
tricks is to bluff people into giving themselves away.

So I ignored his remark, selected a cigarette, and, seeing that he had
just finished his--I've wondered sometimes if a Russian official sleeps
with a cigarette between his lips, for I fear he wouldn't sleep
comfortably without!--handed him the case, with an apology for my
remissness. He accepted both the apology and the cigarette, and looked
at me hard.

"I said, Monsieur, that there are other ways of corresponding than by
writing!" he repeated with emphasis.

"Of course there are," I assented cheerfully. "But I don't see what that
has to do with me in the present instance. I only know the Grand Duke
very slightly. I was hurt in that railway accident last month, and his
Highness was good enough to order one of his servants to look after me;
and he also called to see me at an hotel in Dunaburg. I thought it very
condescending of him. Though I don't suppose I'd have the chance of
meeting him again, as there are no Court festivities now; or if there
are, we outsiders aren't invited to them. Won't your friend accept one
of my cigarett