People in Abo had told me that when he did go out into
the streets of Helsingfors it was at night, and he usually disguised
himself in the uniform of a private soldier of the guard, thus escaping
recognition by those who, driven to desperation by injustice, sought his
life.
A long silence had fallen between us, and it now occurred to me to take
advantage of his hesitation. Therefore I said in a firm voice, in
French--
"I think, Baron, our interview is at an end, is it not? Therefore I wish
you good-day."
He turned upon me suddenly with an evil flash in his dark eyes, and a
snarling imprecation in Russian upon his lips. His hand still held the
order committing me to the fortress.
"But before I leave you will destroy that document. It may fall into
other hands, you know," and I walked towards him with quick
determination.
"I shall do nothing of the kind!" he snapped.
Without further word I snatched the paper from his thin white fingers
and tore it up before his face. His countenance went livid.
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