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 he did, by the mention of my name; but I showed no sign of this, although he looked for it.

"Why did you force your way in here—unless, indeed, you had an object which I shall only be too glad to welcome?"

"I will make another guess," I answered. "I came through your own contriving, General;" and this time it was he, not I, who had to conceal surprise—for my guess was right.

He looked at me and nodded his head.

"It is my business to know all newcomers to Sofia," he said. "And you are too notable and have started too much comment for me not to know of you. My agents serve me well, and I thought it was full time for you to declare yourself. There are only two courses open to a man making a career in this country, as you have said you intend to do. Only two sides, one of which a man must take. You must be either for or against the interests of Russia—which is it to be?"

This was plain talking in all truth.

"I have been in the country too short a time to have weighed the considerations which must determine me."

"Good; evasive but politic, though not, of course, convincing."

"Yet true," said I shortly.

"Very well. We'll take it at that;" and he looked at me as if he were pondering carefully the arguments he should use to convince and win me. "Yet you've not been quite inactive, have you, although here so short a time?"

"You mean?"

"What should I mean?" he asked, throwing up his