The Mission of Poubalov — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

LATIZKT’S LESSON. 77 and struck his hand angrily against his brow, muttering: ‘**Fool, fool!’’ What was this sense of loss but a relief from the domi- nating influence of Poubalov’s stronger personality? There, with all his desperation, even at the height of his exaltation, when he seemed to tread the border lands of heroism, he had halted at a single word from the spy. He had stood and listened to threats and sophistry, and had been moved by the one and convinced by the other. No! he could not tell all this to Palovna, or to any other person except Strobel; to him, if he should ever re- turn, he would make a full confession of his defeat. For the present he must keep it to himself, and if he would still do something to effect his vengeance and rescue Strobel, he must work in secret. And as he reflected that it was just this course that Poubalov undoubtedly ex- pected him to take, he groaned and slunk abashed and mortified to his lonely room. In the early morning, without waiting to read newspa- pers, or submit to interviews from reporters, should they call again at the house, Clara and Louise set forth to fin- ish their search for the ‘‘second driver.’’ Again they had a tedious, fruitless experience. Now and again it seemed momentarily as if they had come upon a clew to the man, but Clara’s keen questions invariably brought them to the same disappointing end. By noon they had visited every livery stable in Boston. ‘Don’t think me unkind, Clara,’’ ventured Louise, ‘‘but I fear we ought to give this up. I don’t know that I can say just why, for I sympathize with you as deeply as ever, and, like you, I believe in Ivan; but somehow I fear.”’ ‘‘There are the stables in Cambridge and Somerville,’’ responded Clara, absently; ‘‘we haven’t been there, For- give me, dear! I didn’t mean to ignore what you said. We are both tired. I had meant to call at Mrs. White’s before returning, but we will go home and rest, and see if fresh thinking will help us. There may be some word at home by this time.”’ Geom Ghboo KS |