Page:William Le Queux - The Czar's Spy.djvu/283

Rh rule. Why, if His Excellency saw every one who desired to see him, he would be compelled to give audience the whole twenty-four hours round."

At a glance I saw that this elegant Colonel, who seemed to take the greatest pride over his exquisitely kept person and his spotless uniform, did not intend to allow me the satisfaction of an audience of that most hated official of the Czar. The latter was in fear of the dagger, the pistol, or the bomb, and consequently hedged himself in by persons of the Colonel's type — courteous, diplomatic, but utterly unbending.

After some further argument, I said at last in a firm tone —

"I wish to impress upon you the extreme importance of the information I have to impart, and can only repeat that it is a matter concerning His Excellency privately. Will you therefore do me the favour to take my name to him?"

"His Excellency refuses to be troubled with the names of strangers." was his cold reply, as he turned over my card in his hand.

"But if I write upon it the nature of my business and enclose it in an envelope, will you then take it to him?" I suggested.

He hesitated for a short time, twisting his moustache, and then replied with great reluctance —

"Well, if you are so determined, you may write your business upon your card."

I therefore took out one, and on the back wrote in French the words which I knew must have the effect of obtaining an audience for me —