The Mission of Poubalov — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

THE AGENT OF THE CZAR. 39 CHAPTER V. THE AGENT OF THE CZAR. ‘‘Good-morning,’’ said Poubalov, gutturally; ‘‘this is Madame White, I believe?”’ ‘‘Yes, sir,’’ replied the landlady, impressed at once by the stranger’s deferential manner, and believing that through him the mystery would be cleared away; ‘‘won’t you come in?’’ ‘‘Thank you, yes. I have called to inquire for my friend Strobel. ’’ ‘‘You are not the first, sir,’’ said Mrs. White, opening the door to the sitting-room. ‘‘There are two here now who will be glad to see you. Miss Hilman, this is the gen- tleman who called on Mr. Strobel yesterday morning. Miss Hilman was to have married him, you know, and this is Miss Pembroke,’’ and having thus awkwardly in- itiated a new scene, Mrs. White took refuge in the near- est chair. Poubalov was as near to showing surprise as he ever permitted himself to come, and Clara, rising impulsively, went directly to him and said: “Then you can tell me something about Mr. Strobel, can you not?”’ “IT can tell you nothing,’’ he answered gravely; ‘‘I came for information myself.’’ Clara looked into his eyes searchingly, and went back to her chair feeling that her greatest hope had been dashed to the ground. ‘‘T feel the awkwardness of my position, ladies,’’ con- tinued Poubalov (I make no attempt to suggest his dia- lect, which was at times almost unintelligible, as there was apthlng of a humorous or trivial character 77 nis sees