led tone, which Vassileffsky imitated in his
response.

"Where is he? I want to see him very badly."

"I know. He wants to see you. He is here in Revel."

"In Revel! Isn't that dangerous?"

"It would be if he weren't so well disguised. You, yourself, wouldn't
know him."

Vassileffsky looked incredulous.

"I bet I should."

"Done with you! What in?"

"A dozen magnums."

"Pay for them, then. _I'm Petrovitch._"

The Captain started, shook himself, and peered drunkenly into my
face.

"I don't believe it."

"Read that then."

I drew out the passport, and spread it before him. The Russian
spelled his way through it, and nodded solemnly at the end.

"Yes, that's all right. You must be Petrovitch, I suppose. But you
don't look like him."

"Didn't I tell you I was disguised. I had to clear out in a hurry.
Some one's been denouncing me to Nicholas."

Vassileffsky looked frightened. His eye sought the door, as though he
no longer felt at ease in my company.

"You needn't be afraid," I assured him. "No one suspects you."

"Well, what do you want?" he asked sullenly.

"I want you to take me on board your ship."

An angry frown crossed his face.

"You want me to hide you from the police!"

"Nonsense. The police are all right. They want me to get away. They
could have put their hands on me long ago if they had wanted to."

"Then why have you come here?"

"I told you. I want to have a talk with you about our plans."

"The plan is all right. But I want to know when we're to sail."

"I'm doing all I can. It's only a question of weeks now."

Vassileffsky looked hard at me again, bent across the table, and
whispered a word which I failed to understand.

Something in his face warned me that it was a password. I recovered
myself from my momentary confusion and smiled.

"The word's changed," I said with an air of authority. "It's _North
Sea_ and _Canal_."

The Russian seemed satisfied.

"Well," he said, stumbling to his feet, "if we're going on board we'd
better go."

"Don't forget the magnums," I put in, as I rose in my turn.

The reckoning was settled, and the champagne ordered to follow us
down to the boat.

Vassileffsky nearly lost his footing as we got out into the fresh
air, and caught hold of my arm.

"You'll have to lead me," he said, speaking thickly. "Straight along
the street, and down the first turning on the quay."

We walked along, arm-in-arm, my companion appearing to become mor