Part 26 (1/2)

”I ,” said Malcol one friend Is that friend Israel Kensky?”

”Hush!+” she said

She took his hand in both of hers

”Good-bye, Mr Hay,” she said ”I may not come to-morrow”

Her voice was hard and strained, and she seemed anxious to end the interview

”Boolba toldrapidly but little above a whisper, ”that he had----certain plans about me Good-bye, Mr

Hay!”

This tiet the village of Preopojensky,” she repeated ”There is only the slightest chance, but if God is merciful and you reach the outside world, you will find the house of Ivan Petroff--please reone

”I wonder rong,” said Malcoled as though----”

Looking round he had seen, only for the fraction of a second, a hand through the grating over the bench Soirl had seen hih, in tile of his vision

Malinkoff was lighting his last cigarette

”My friend,” he said, ”I have an idea that in the early hours of the o the same way as the unfortunate priest”

”What makes you think so?” asked Malcolm quickly

”Not only do I, but the Grand duchess thinks so also,” said Malinkoff

”Possibly this is news”

Again the door was opened, and this time it was an officer of the Red Guard who appeared He had evidently been chosen because of his knowledge of English

”I want the thief,” he said tersely in that language

”That sounds remarkably like me,” said Cherry

He put on his Derby hat slowly and went forth in his shi+rt-sleeves They watched hi taken across the courtyard and through the archhich led to the prison offices and the outer gate

”They haven't released him, I suppose?” asked Malcolated,” he said ”Evidently there is so which Boolba wants to know about us, and which he believes thisthat will injure us,” he said

”But the man is a crook,” said Malinkoff; ”that is the word, isn't it?”