The Mission of Poubalov — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

40 THE AGENT OF THE CZAR. versation),. “ Every newspaper makes me out as a possible foe to Mr. Strobel, a mysterious ogre going about seeking to destoy young men, and perhaps I should not blame anybody for supposing that I might have been concerned in preventing Mr. Strobel’s marriage, but I assure you that I was not. I did not know of his intentions until yes- terday morning, when he told me about it himself. I am as much surprised as anybody to read of his disappear-— ance.’’ Poubalov paused and with marked deliberation took out his card case. “It was but natural,’ said Clara, trom aise ‘that we should hope that you could throw some light on his — movements, for knowing nothing except that somebody had called on him unexpectedly, we could not fail to at- tribute something significant to the visit.”’ ‘‘Especially,’’ put in Mrs, White, ‘‘as the young men and I hunted the house over for your card and couldn’t find it.’’ ‘‘All very natural,’’ responded Poubalov, imperturba- bly, ‘‘and it was a circumstance of the utmost triviality in itself that lent color to my mysterious coming and go- ing. You remember, Mrs. White, do you not, that you took my card to Mr. Strobel?’’ ‘*Yes, indeed, and he—I don’t want to give offense—he didn’t seem particularly pleased to see it.’’ ‘*So you told the newspaper men. Iam not in the least offended. Here is the card you took to him. I[ asked Mr. Strobel where I might cal] upon him after his wedding tour, and he wrote that address upon my own card. Of course I took it away with me.’’ He handed the card to Clara, adding: ‘‘I want you to see that I am concealing nothing, and if my voluntary return to this house did not © signify anything, your suspicions should certainly be re- lieved by seeing that Strobel himself made a ini ines 1 ment with me at his future home.”’ _ “T hope, Mr. Poubalov,’’ said Clara, with her eyes spon the card, ‘‘that you will forgive us for chestiiiayoasy sais