The Mission of Poubalov — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

<<; LITIZKLP?S LESSON. 73 whom God preserve, Nicholas Litizki—will do nothing in a friendly country in violation of that country’s laws. But see, my friend, what a tower of strength a proper respect for the law becomes: I not only knew you were coming, but I knew what you were coming for, and 1 need not say that 1 knew what way you would take. I have kept within the law, and yet 1 found out all about you and your asso ciates before I had been in Boston—no matter how long. Poor fellow! did you really think that Poubalov’s eyes did not penetrate your flimsy disguiser I am sorry, Litizki; your patience and devotion would fit you for service in the holy cause of the czar, and it is not at all adapted to pursuing the steps of honest men.”’ ‘You do not frighten me,’’ interposed Litizki; ‘‘I know your superlative cunning and your crooked ways. Your speech nauseates me. ‘Honest men!’ Bah!’’ ‘‘We won't dispute over trifles, then. I simply call to your attention the fact that you unlawfully invade a dwelling-house, prowling about like a common thief and thus place yourself unreservedly in my power. Of course, Nicholas Litizki did not enter enter here to commit theft. He came to find his friend, Ivan Strobel.’’ ‘It is a lie, Alexander Poubavol! I sought him not.’’ ‘““You know whether it is a lie, or not. Sodol. There- fore we will not argue the matter. Well, what are you go- ing to do now that you are here?”’ Litizki boiled with futile rage. He was trapped not only literally as Poubalov’s prisoner, but he felt how weak he was in any contest of words with this shrewd master of deceit. He had spoken truly in telling Paul Pa- lovna that it mattered not what became of him, and al- though those words were uttered under the influence of a desire for vengeance that constant dwelling upon had turned to conviction that he would succeed, he now felt them to be as true, for he despaired, as he had been de-- spairing for years, of accomplishing anything that would be worth the doing. Why had he presumed to undertake S GO the hopeless task of outwitting Poubalov? He Saw how