The Mission of Poubalov — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

LTAITIZKPS LESSON. 75 ‘*Nicholas Litizki,’’ said Poubalov, softly. The tailor turned, such was the compelling power of that deep voice, and for the instant his progress was © checked. Poubalov had extended one arm upon the table and his hand was toying with a revolver. ‘*T believe you, my friend,’’ remarked the spy, hardly looking toward the tailor at first, but later concentrating his gleaming eyes upon him, “I believe you when you say by actions if not by words that you would die for your friend, and that you do not care what becomes of you. But you have some degree of cleverness, Litizki. We learned that years ago. Listen, then, just a moment before you lay hand upon that door. It is locked, Litizki. Before you could open it I could put a bullet through your heart. Would I not dare? What should a peaceable lodger not do to a man who stealthily enters his house by night? Who would disbelieve meif I should calmly re- port to the police that you came asa burglar, and that I shot at you in protection of property and life? Suppose, however, thatI prefer to avoid a disturbance. Before you could more than wrench the knob of that door once, I could pierce your heart silently.’’ Poubalov rose and stood towering over Litizki, a knife glistening in his right hand. ‘*You know something of my resources,’’ he continued, ‘fand whether I would be likely to find difficulty ‘in, dis- posing of your lifeless body. Why! you have come so secretly that you and I alone know of your whereabout. We would then have another disappearance to add to the Strobel mystery, but one that would not be half as inter- esting, Litizki, not half.’’ “You have killed Ivan Strobel!’’ whispered Litizki, shrinking away. ‘*Tn that inference,’’ said Poubalov, contemptuously, as he laid his weapons on the table and resumed his seat, ‘‘~our madness reaches its climax and you will speedily recover. You will not go to that door now. You see how useless it would be. Live, and you may yet.sec.vanr. (2) (0)