The Mission of Poubalov — page 165: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE LITTLE FRONT ROOM. 161 the name. The point of the dagger had completely obliter- ated several letters and scratched most of the rest. Clara sat during this with her handkerchief to her lips, trying to recover her mental poise, and concentrating her mind on the fact that a tragedy had not taken place. The train rolled slowly into the station, and the passen- gers were speedily occupied with escaping from their con- finement. One officious gentleman remarked to Poubalov: “You will, of course, report this matter to the police? . I shall be pleased to give you my card if you require a wit- ness, although I was in the wash-room at the time you were struck down.’’ ‘“‘Thank you,’’ responded Poubalov, with a grave smile, *‘I shall not require your card, as I have no com- plaint to make.”’ ‘‘What!’’ blustered the passenger, ‘‘you won’t have your assailant arrested? Such a man ought not to be at large.”’ ““The railroad officials may take that view of it if they choose,’’ said the spy, calmly; ‘‘I have no desire in the matter.’”’ | Amazed and indignant, the officious passenger hunted up an Official of the company, and having insisted ona thorough investigation of the attempted murder, went. home complacent in that he had done his duty asa citizen. The train-men, of course, reported what they knew of the occurrence fo their chief, but the assailant had leaped from the train, the name of the victim was not known, and the result was a lame account of the episode at the nearest police station late in the evening. The police had nothing to work upon, and, therefore, said nothing of it to the reporters when they made their regular calls at the station; and when at last, very late at night, a reporter to whose ears an exaggerated rumor had come, telephoned for corroboration, the sergeant in charge could only say that something of the kind had occurred; and thus it came about that one enterprising newspaper had an excusalbly imperfect report of the occurrence. (C(0) in Clara would have left the train without Poubaloy’s as- | (COLAMICGELOOOKS