Page:William Le Queux - The Czar's Spy.djvu/285

Rh But when the footman had bowed and retired and we were alone, he turned slightly, and I then saw that his bony face, with high cheek-bones, slight grey side-whiskers, hard mouth and black eyes set closely together, was one that bore the mark of evil upon it — the keen, sinister countenance of one who could act without any compunction and without regret. Truly one would not be surprised at any cruel, dastardly action of a man with such a face — the face of an oppressor.

"Well?" he snapped in French in a high-pitched voice. "You want to see me concerning that mad English girl? What picturesque lies do you intend to tell me concerning her?"

"I have no intention of telling any untruths concerning her," was my quick response, as I faced him unflinchingly. "She has told me sufficient to ——"

"She has told you something! Ah! I guessed as much. I expected this!" And I saw that his thin crafty face went pale, while his eyes glanced evilly upon me.

He believed that she had revealed to me her secret.

He placed his hand upon the back of a chair wherein was concealed an electric button, and next instant a little stout man in shabby black appeared as though by magic through a secret door hidden in the dark panelling of the audience chamber — the man who was his personal guard against the plots for his assassination.