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Updated: June 26, 2025
And had not the Count warned him to treat the young Englishman as his own son merely to play a comedian's part and to frighten him before opening the doors with profuse apologies. Zaniloff did not like the turn affairs had taken. He determined to see the Governor-General without a moment's loss of time. Meanwhile there could be no earthly reason why the girl should not be flogged.
"I cannot stay here," he exclaimed presently, "I must go to my room, if you please." He turned and reeled from the place, ashamed of his weakness, yet unable to control it. Outside upon the landing, he discovered that Zaniloff was at his elbow and had something to say to him.
"It means that, ah, nitchevo je ne m'en souviens jamais." He held the door open and Alban entered the carriage without a word. Apparently they still waited for someone and five minutes passed and found their attitudes unchanged. Then Zaniloff himself appeared full of bustle and business but in a temper modified toward concession.
"I am glad that you have found the man," he explained presently, "it clears up so much and must be very satisfactory. Would you have any objection to telling me what you are going to do with the girl I have just left?" Zaniloff smiled. "I have no objection at all. When the Ministry at St. Petersburg condescends to inform me, you shall share my information.
Early as the hour was, the meanest servant whom Zaniloff commanded had work to do and well understood the urgency of his task. The night had been one long story of plot and counterplot; of Revolutionaries fleeing from street to street, Cossacks galloping upon their heels, houses awakened and doors beaten down, the screams and cries of women, the savage anger of men.
"My dear lad, we must really make you Master of all these pretty ceremonies. I'll speak to Zaniloff." He laughed lightly, for the idea of this mere stripling being of any use to his Government amused him greatly. His apologies for the indulgence, however, were not to be spoken, for the blood suddenly rushed from his cheeks, and the good nurse intervened in some alarm.
"I did not believe that you could possibly be so foolish," he said. It puzzled Zaniloff altogether. Searching that open face with eyes accustomed to read many human stories, he could discern neither emotion nor anger, but just an honest man's faith in his own cause and a sure belief that it must triumph.
"Not for that which happened at three o'clock in the morning." Zaniloff permitted the merest suspicion of a smile to lurk about the corners of a sensual mouth. "It is difficult," he said dryly and then, "your memory will be better later on. Did the girl tell you that his excellency would be assassinated?" "You know very well that she did not." "I know?"
Whatever Alban might really feel, the sickening apprehension of which he was the victim, the almost overmastering desire to take this ruffian by the throat and strangle him as he sat, not a trace of it could be discerned either in his speech or his attitude. "He stood before me like a dog which has barked and is waiting to bite," Zaniloff said afterwards.
The whole city seemed to be swarming with troops. Well might Zaniloff think of other things. "Is the Count better, sir?" Alban ventured presently. "He will live," was the dry response, "at least the doctors say so." "And you have discovered the truth about the affair?" "The man who attacked him was shot on the Rymarska half an hour ago." "Then that is why you are taking me back to my hotel?"
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