and on receiving
an affirmative answer, continued, "we are then colleagues. Are you
satisfied with your results here?"

"Oh, things might be better. There is too much competition."

"Cotton?"

"No. Bronze goods and silk. Have brought some marvellous gold ornaments
from Delhi."

"Then probably your cigarette-case comes from Delhi also?" The oval eyes
of the other shot over him in an inquiring glance.

"My cigarette-case? No--are you travelling perhaps in skins, colleague?
Do you deal in Cashmir goats?"

"I have everything. My house trades in everything."

"You do not come from Calcutta?"

"No! not from Calcutta."

"Bad weather down there. All my leather is spoilt."

"Is it so damp there?"

"Vapour bath, I tell you; a real vapour bath!"

Heideck had long since made up his mind that he had a Russian before
him. But, in order to be quite on the safe side, he made a jocular
remark in Russian. His new acquaintance looked up astonished.

"You speak Russian, sir?"

"A little."

"But you are no Russian?"

"No; I am a German, who, during a temporary stay in Russia, have picked
up a little knowledge of languages. We merchants go about a lot."

The gentleman who, according to his statement, travelled in bronze
and silk was evidently delighted to hear in a place where he had least
expected it the familiar tones of his mother tongue, and Heideck did his
utmost, with almost an excess of zeal, to keep him in good humour. He
called his servant and bade him get some hot water.

"It's quite chilly to-night," he said, turning to his guest. "A hot
brandy-and-water is not to be despised."

"Ah," said the Russian, "stop a moment; better chuck the water away and
let something more palatable take its place."

He went into his room and returned immediately with a bottle of sherry
and two bottles of champagne.

"I will, with your permission, brew in this kettle a bowl in Russian
fashion. Sugar must go in too; for this champagne, prepared for English
taste, is too dry, and must be sweetened to make it palatable for us."
He poured the bottle of cognac, which the servant had brought, together
with the sherry into the champagne and filled the glasses.

In German fashion the two gentlemen touched glasses. As they did so,
Heideck once more attentively observed his new acquaintance. The lurking
expression with which he felt that the eyes of the other were fixed upon
him made him start for a moment. What if the Russian perhap