Читать книгу When I Was Czar онлайн

12 страница из 105

“There’s this woman in it then, beside the Duchess Stephanie? Who is she?”

“I haven’t an idea—some accomplice no doubt.”

“Since the conditions are, as you say, so ridiculous, may he not be suspicious when we agree to them?”

“It is very possible. But on the other hand he knows that my master is as anxious as I am about those papers.”

“And he may think the Emperor would take the risk. I see. Well, I guess I’ll do it, Prince, but I should like to think it over.”

Prince Kalkov rose at once.

“Naturally. I need only say, monsieur, that you will be doing His Majesty and Russia a service which we shall not forget. Shall I have your decision in the morning?”

“To-night, if you’ll come back, say, in a couple of hours. You won’t find me asleep after all you’ve said.”

He smiled pleasantly, and as he went to the door, said—

“You are just the man I would have chosen for such a task, M. Denver.”

“That remains to be seen,” I replied; “but there’s just one more question, by the by. Which are the countries concerned in those papers?”