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Updated: May 19, 2025
I asked in as quiet a voice as I could command. "With pleasure. I am Michael Boranski, Chief of Police of the Province of Abo-Biornebourg." "Ah! Well, Michael Boranski, I shall trouble you to pick up my passport, stick it together again, and apologize to me." "Apologize! Me apologize!" And the fellow laughed aloud, while the police officers on either side of me grinned from ear to ear.
The suggestion was possible, but I feared improbable. Another very curious feature in the affair was the sudden manner in which Michael Boranski had exerted his power and influence in order to render me that service. He had actually bribed the guards of Kajana; he had instructed the faithful Felix, he had provided our boat, and he had ordered the nun to open the water-gate to me. Why?
Michael Boranski had given his pledge to assist me, yet he had most plainly explained to me his fears. The Baron was intent upon again getting Elma into his power. Was it at his orders, I wondered, that the sweet-faced girl had been deprived of speech and hearing? Had she fallen an innocent victim to his infamous scheming?
"But, Excellency, the Governor-General has issued orders for the prisoner's arrest and deportation to Helsingfors." "That may be. But I am Chief of Police in Abo, and I release him." The officer looked at me in such blank astonishment that I could not resist smiling. "I am well aware of the reason of this Englishman's visit to the north," added Boranski. "More need not be said.
The latter listened to the officer's story of my arrest without saying a word. "The prisoner, your Excellency, desired to be brought here to you before being taken to Helsingfors. He said you would be aware of the facts." "And so I am," remarked Boranski, with a smile. "There is no conspiracy. You must at once release this gentleman and the other two prisoners."
So the fellow Boranski had really kept faith with me, and at his order the closed door of the convent had been opened. "Of course not," I answered. "Russian officialdom is all-powerful in Finland nowadays. But where is the lady?" "You are still prepared to risk your liberty and life?" she asked in a hoarse voice, full of grim meaning. "I am," I said. "Lead me to her."
They lunched together at the Restaurant du Nord opposite the landing stage, and an hour later left by steamer for Petersburg." "An Englishman!" I cried. "Did you not inform the Chief of Police, Boranski?" "Yes, your Excellency. But he said that their passports being in order it was better to allow the lady to proceed. To delay her might mean her rearrest in Finland," he added.
"To the world she is dead," responded Michael Boranski, stroking his red beard. "For that reason the information I give you must be treated as confidential." "Why should she be in hiding? She is guilty of no offense is she?" The man shrugged his shoulders, but did not reply. "And this Baron Oberg? You tell me nothing of him," I said with dissatisfaction.
Here we obtained a hasty meal, and afterwards took the train down to Abo, where we arrived next morning, after a very uncomfortable and sleepless journey. At nine o'clock I stood in the big bare office of Michael Boranski, where only a few days before we had had such a heated argument.
"The Governor-General is determined that she shall not escape," remarked the other. "She is probably hidden in the forest, somewhere or other." "Of course. They are making a thorough search over every verst of it. If she is there, she will most certainly be found." "No doubt," remarked Boranski, leaning back in his padded chair and looking at me meaningly across the littered table.
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