Page:Watts Mumford--Whitewash.djvu/178

 Victoria described her visit to the French consulate, and the measures that would probably be taken.

Her listener's heart stopped beating.

Detectives! A search! Impossible! The whole villainous plot was clear as day. Evidently Victoria knew of Valdeck's secret connection with the Polish Educational League. The money he was collecting he would be unable to explain without implicating himself and the generous patriots, without putting himself and them practically into the power of the Russian secret police. Valdeck had assured her that even in America there was no safety once their positions were well authenticated.

On fire to put him on his guard, she cut short the interview. She must go at once. She must warn him, must help him at any cost. Her manner was strangely abstracted, and to Victoria's amazement she did not try to defend her protégé, but took her leave with unaccustomed quiet. Victoria looked after her with puzzled eyes.

"Now what on earth—" she began aloud.

"What did she say?" came from Mrs. Dur- 168