The Argosy — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

320 THE ARGOSY. A moment’s reflection sufficed to change his anger to equanimity, forced or genuine, I didn’t care which, and he dismissed the men. ‘‘There can be only one reason why you come here,’’ he said, as soon as we were alone, speaking in a very sharp tone. ‘“On the contrary, there may be two,’’ I replied, copying his sharpness. ‘The only condition on which I can receive you, lieutenant, is the one I told you some hours since. Have you come to comply with it ?’’ ‘“T have come to ask you why you have arrested my sister and where she 1s.” ‘“« Arrested whom ?’’ he asked, with a sharp look I didn’t understand. ‘“ My sister.’’ ‘“Who is that?’’ ‘This with a smile of indescribable meaning. ‘* You knew well enough when I was here this afternoon.”’ ‘On the contrary, I knew then no more than I know now. I don’t even know that you have a sister. Have you?’’ Hither the man was a lunatic or he knew everything. Here was obviously the reason of the altered reception. But I would not betray my- self by a single word or gesture. ‘“T am speaking of my sister, Olga Petrovitch, whom you rescued from the hands of Major Devinsky. Now, do you know what I mean?”’ ‘“No,’’ he answered stolidly. ‘Well, do you know whom I mean? ’”’ ‘‘T know of Olga Petrovitch.”’ : “Then what the devil do you mean ?’’ I cried angrily. ‘‘ You have arrested her, haven’t you?”’ ‘‘ She has been arrested,’’ he answered quietly. What.for ?”? ‘Vou seem very anxious on her account.”’ ‘Would you have a man indifferent when his sister is whisked off to jail by these police devils of yours ?”’ ‘Indifferent? No, indeed; certainly not. Even I am not indifferent about it. It has been of the utmost use to me, in fact.’’ , ‘‘ How long are you going to keep up these riddles, prince? I don’t pre- tend to be your equal at that kind of fence ; and as it’s perfectly evident to me you think you have a knotted whip for my back I'll wait till your ready to lay it on.’’ He laughed at that. ‘‘ Are you going to accept my conditions? ’’ he asked. ‘Tt will depend absolutely on the result of this interview.”’ He paused half a minute, and then taking a paper from his pocket tossed it to me with a laugh. ‘‘Here’s the key. How do you read it?’’ he asked lightly. It was indeed the key, and the instant my eyes fell on it I saw everything. It was the permit found on Olga. The game was up, but I wouldn’t play the craven. I tossed it back to him and laughed, a more natural and mirthful laugh ‘than his, though I scented death in the air. comicbooks (E(0)