Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 2).djvu/151

 The poor woman felt faint with fright. This man must have seen her counting her money, and had come to kill her and steal it.

He still fixed his gaze upon her, breathlessly, his face drawn, evidently waiting to spring upon her.

He said brusquely—

"Madame, have no fear."

She answered nothing, she was incapable of opening her lips, she heard her heart beating and a buzzing in her ears.

"I am no malefactor, madame," he continued.

Still she said nothing; but in a sudden movement she made, her knees knocked together and the money poured on to the carpet like water from a spout.

The man stared in surprise at this flow of gold, and at once stooped to gather it up.

She, terrified, rose, casting all her gold on to the carpet, and rushed to the door to throw herself on to the line. But he perceived her intention, sprang up, seized her in his arms, and forced her on to the seat, holding her by the wrists.

"Listen to me, madame. I am no thief. As a proof I am going to gather up this money and restore it to you. But I am a lost man, a dead man, unless you help me to pass the frontier. I can tell you no more. In one hour we shall be at the last Russian station, in one hour and twenty minutes we shall be on the other side of the boundaries of the Empire. Unless you aid me, I am lost. And yet, madame, I have neither killed nor stolen, nor done anything dishonourable. That I swear to you. I can tell you no more."

And, going down on his knees, he collected the money, feeling under the seats, and looking into the furthest corners. Then, when the little leather bag was once more full, he handed it to his neighbour without a word, and returned to his seat in the other corner of the carriage.

Neither moved. She sat motionless and mute, still faint with fright, but recovering little by little. As to him, he moved no muscle, he sat erect, his eyes fixedly looking straight before him, very pale, as though he were dead. Every now and then she threw him a glance, which was quickly averted. He was a man of about thirty, very handsome, with every appearance of being a gentleman.

The train tore through the darkness, throwing its ear-piercing whistles into the night, now slackening speed, now off again at its fastest. Then it calmed its flight, whistled several times, and stopped altogether.

Ivan appeared at the door to take orders. The Countess Marie looked for the last time at her strange companion. Then in a voice brusque and trembling, said to her servant—

"Ivan, you will return to the Count. I have no further need of your services."

Amazed, the man opened his enormous eyes. He stammered—

"But—but"

She continued—

"No, you need not come. I have changed my mind. I wish you to stay in Russia. Here, here is money for the journey. Give me your cap and mantle."

The old servant, bewildered, took off his cap and mantle, with unquestioning obedience, accustomed to the sudden whims and