been paying her unwelcome attentions, but I
suspected nothing till I one day learned that she had been arrested for
a political offence--she, who never knew the meaning of the word
politics. I knew what that meant.... At the time I was in straits
myself, for fortune had not been kind at the cards. This was in Vienna.
I was staring out of my window in a kind of daze when I saw a man pass
in a motor-car. It was Grell--the man whom I had known as Johnson.

"In desperation I sought him out--it was easy enough to find where he
was staying--and told him my story. I asked him to loan me money,
because I knew that I might have to bribe officials. He offered to do
more--to accompany me to St. Petersburg and use all his influence on
behalf of my sister.

"It was at his suggestion that I travelled as his valet. My appearance
had altered since I was last in Russia, but difficulties might have
arisen. We travelled night and day, but we were too late. The girl who
had never harmed a single person in her white life was dead--killed by
the hardships to which she had been subjected. I--I----"

He covered his eyes with his hands for a moment, and Foyle waited
patiently. Ivan controlled himself with an effort. "Grell advised me to
come away, but I was determined to stay for a while. I had work to do. I
told him nothing, but steadily I sought for the man who had killed her
as surely as though he had plunged a dagger in her heart. I found him at
last----"

"Wait a moment," interjected Foyle quickly. "I want to know nothing of
that; that has nothing to do with me." He had guessed what work it was
that the hot-blooded Russian had remained to do. No man is bound to
incriminate himself.

"It was through Grell that I got away scot-free. No one suspected the
valet of so well-known a man. He asked no questions, though I could tell
that he knew what--what I knew. He risked much to shield me, although
never a word passed between us. Could I do less when it came to my turn?
I came back to England with him, and I remained his personal servant. I
kept my distance from the other servants."

"In fact, you pretended to have little acquaintance with English?"
interrupted Foyle.

Ivan nodded. "That was so. On the nights when I was free, I wandered
about London and picked up a few old acquaintances, among them being
Charlie Condit. I shan't tell what I knew about him, but it was enough
to keep him civil, and later on he did what I told him.

"On th