The Mission of Poubalov — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

: IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. 69 curred to him that now might be the time to get into the house on some pretext and make a search, but he dis- missed the thought as ruinous. If Strobel were there, the landlady would be paid to be watchful during Poubalov’s absence. No; the night was the time when nobody would be watching, and when every corner in the house could be searched from cellar to garret. Foubalov went to State Street, and entered the bank where Strobel had been employed. He brushed past Litizki when he emerged, but apparently did not see him. The tailor followed him from one place to another, waited under a hotel window for an hour while the spy was din- ing, saw him intoa theatre and eventually back to his lodgings, where he arrived at about eleven o’clock. It was evident that he went directly to bed, for the light in his room was extinguished very shortly after he went in. Litizki then went to a cheap restaurant, where he ap- peased his appetite and drank several cups of bad tea. It was after midnight before he left the place, and his one “wish was that he had a dark lantern. To make up for his lack, he was plentifully supplied with matches. A printer, whom Litizki knew by sight, lived in the ‘house adjoining the one where Poubalov lodged. The tailor knew that he ordinarily arrived home at one o'clock. He was on time this night, anc as he turned into ‘the tiny yard before the building, Litizki stepped down from the doorway. “I’m glad you’ve come,’’ he said, ‘‘I left my key in the room and I can’t rouse anybody by ringing.’’ ‘**No,’’ responded the printer with a laugh, ‘‘they don’t get up for anybody. How long you been living here?”’ “Only a few days.”’ The door was opened, and both men went upstairs. The printer, with a cheery ‘‘good-night,’’ entered a room on the second landing. Litizki continued to the top floor, and thence through a skylight to the roof. Fortune was, in- deed, favoring him. He had supposed the skylight would be raised for the sake of ventilation. There had, beer...