The Mission of Poubalov — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

LITIZKI BREAKS HIS APPOINTMENT. 101 _ “T don’t remember, ’’replied Billings, uneasily. ‘‘I shall have to look up my book; ’tain’t here.’’ ‘Will you do so?’’ asked Clara, pleasantly, convinced now that the man was lying; ‘‘and send the names to me, please. Will you do that to-night?”’ **Yes’m,’’ replied Billings reaching for his hat. **And what is your address?”’ Billings told her, and she laid her hand gently on his arm. An idea that had occurred to her vaguely when his name was announced as she stood before Poubalov, now recurred to her in the shape of a plan. She wuuld have Billings confront the Russian, and watch their faces nar- rowly for some sign of recognition, or alarm. “*Will you come into the next room amoment?”’ she said, **Il have something to show you.”’ There seemed to be a shade of suspicion in his eyes, but he made no objection, and Clara conducted him to the drawing-room. It was dark. With a premonition of disap- pointment, Clara found a match on the mantel and lit the gas. After a hasty glance around she opened the door to the dining-room. ‘*L.ou!’’ she whispered eagerly, ‘Shave you seen Mr. Poubalov?’”’ **No,’’ replied Louise, coming forward and entering the parlor; ‘“‘has he gone? Then it must have been he!”’ **Who? What have you seen? Wait, come into the hall. Will you sit down just a minute longer, Mr, Billings? I shall be but a moment.”’ Billings complied, and the young ladies passed quickly into the hall, where the first thing that Clara saw were Poubaloy’s hat and stick lying upon atable. She turned in the utmost wonderment upon her cousin. “All I can say,’’ said Louise, ‘‘is that I saw a man leap over the hedge into Mr. Jordan’s grounds a short time after you went into the drawing-room to meet Poubaloy. 1 couldn’t tell who it was, couldn’t even see that he had no hat on. I feared he might be &° tivan3) S (C(O) im