Part 19 (2/2)
I unlocked the door as quietly as I had locked it, and a uttural and surly thanks; backed right up against the servant, who, as we both guessed, aiting just outside Even I was surprised at the altercation that followed A Russian droshky driver has a bigger coe than any other cabby in the world, and the Grand Duke Loris had evidently studied his part from life He was letter perfect in it!
I strode to the door and flung it open
”Here, stop that!” I shouted ”Be off with you, Ivan; you impudent rascal!”
He leered at rowling ribaldries all the way down the staircase
It was a masterpiece of ied it safe to start on the first stage of my expedition I meant to take a circuitous route to the cafe, in case I was still being watched I would run no unnecessary risks, not for uessed that the success of our enterprise--whatever it ould depend on the exercise of infinite caution, at the beginning, anyhow I felt strangely elated, happier than I had done for h I knew that the worst, or almost the worst, had come to pass, and that Anne was here, in the power of her ene to save her,--ould save her ”A forlorn hope” even Loris Solovieff had called it Nothing of the kind Could anything that such aloyally side by side, what could we not dare, and accoht
”Merely an earth to cleave, a sea to part!”
I kept a wary lookout as I ed at this hour of the sueup, o
I reached the cafe eventually and, so far as I knew, unobserved, and ca, I hope, as like a shabbily attired Russian student as the Grand Duke Loris looked like a droshky driver, accoht have been my father,--none other than Mishka himself
The sky was overcast, and already, above the rumble of the traffic, one could hear the ht in London, little h I had seemed to live a lifetime since then
”The storm comes soon,” said Mishka ”That is well, very well”
We ca; and he paused irresolute, fu in his pocket
”We will drive, Paul,” he asserted aloud, with the air of a ance ”Yes, I say ill; the storle, after the usual fashi+on, with the nearest driver; and again I uise; for it was he, of course
Once clear of the city Mishka unfolded the plan
”Presently we turn across country and come to a house; there we leave the droshky; and there also will be horses for us in readiness if we should need theh the forest to the et near it, but you will keep close to Ivan”--we spoke always of the Duke by that naed, and you will give the word, 'For Freedon I showed you Give it to me, now”
He held out his hand, palers in turn; five little taps
”Good, you are a quick learner--Paul! The ine; the place is changedEither way there will be little light, there a the pines That is in our favor If she is there, we shall kno to act; we must decide then She will be accused--that is certain--but the five ood; we shall easily get speech with her, and perhaps she may return with us At least she will be safe for the moether We et her away,--or--die with her!”
”Well said!” growled ”Ivan”
The rain was pattering do in big drops, and the lightning flashes were more frequent, the thunder nearer each time The horse shi+ed as there came a more vivid flash than before, followed al roll--the storm was upon us
As the thunder ceased, I found ”Ivan” had pulled the horse up, and was listening intently I listened also, and above the faint tinkle of our bells and the slight movements of the horse, I heard, faint, as yet, but rapidly approaching, the thud of hoofs and the jangle of accoutre towards us; I saw thee us, and I shall drive on, trusting to the darkness and storm If they follow--as they probably will--and shoot, you two must seize your opportunity, and jump There is just the chance that they may not see you; I shall drive on If I distance them, I will follow you But we must not all be taken, and it will be better for ain on the instant, and another flash showed several ures just ahead