The Mission of Poubalov — page 199: what you’re looking at

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

THE NEW CLEW. L95 | urning them one sheet at a time over the wash-bowl that the haa set upon the center table. ' He was fully dressed, even to the hat on his head, and aul carefully replaced the nail which protected his peep- ole. He. stood by the chair with Clara’s letter in his hand, still undecided what course to take, when there was a csnock at his door. He opened, and Poubalov stood there. - **¥You can spare the time now, I suppose?’’ he said in- quiringly with a grim glance at the valentine hanging from the improvised hook. - Paul saw that his ruse was discovered, but he followed the spy into the front room, his heart beating high with expectation. ‘‘There is never an effect without a cause, young man,” remarked Poubalov, motioning Paul toa chair; ‘‘the ef. fect was sufficient for me last night, and so far as your act deserves it, you have my thanks. This morning I sought the cause, and of course, I found it. Do not be disturbed. I have no reproaches to make. You imagined yourself at war with me, and you took your own methods to win. ‘There is nothing to complain of inthat; but you, as a Rus. ‘sian of intelligence, should have known that I could not be as hostile as you think to an American citizen. Bah! ‘it’s not worth discussing! You’ve all lost your heads. _ “What Ihave to say is this: Iam on duty for the czar, and having recovered from my dangerous temptation to be derelict, I shall do what duty demands, without let or hindrance from anybody. I will tolerate no interference, ‘no matter whose fair lips give the command. When that little wretch, Litizki, was in that chair where you are now ‘sitting, I sought to influence him by threats against him. ‘self. I don’t take that method with you, Paul Palovna. If you choose to do so, you can dog my footsteps from now ‘on, for I presume your American laws will not protect ‘me in my desire to work undisturbed; but bear in mind that I have no more love for Ivan Strobel now than Fo svar.