The Mission of Poubalov — page 235: what you’re looking at

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

POUBALOV SUCCEEDS. 231 not issue. I came to America solely to discover what Ivan Strobel was doing and thinking. I could not leave the country until I had found him unless I chose to disregard the wishes of my sovereign. Therefore, when he disap- peared, 1 bent every energy to finding him. It is the habit of men like Litizki to invest me in their imaginations with extraordinary if not superhuman powers, and it is a part of my policy to encourage their delusion. But I am only an ordinary man, Miss Hilman, and in your hands I have proved to be as weak as the weakest.’’ He paused and looked somberly at the floor. “I have been sadly puzzled by this case,’’ he continued after a moment without raising his eyes; ‘‘nothing ever seemed so impenetrable a mystery. I was sincere in thinking the Nihilists had had something to do with it. After seeing you I was certain that no other woman could have lead Strobel away; but I went to New York for much the same reason that you did, I suppose, hoping for some clew. 1 had about given up the Nihilistic theory when Litizki’s assault and some inquiries I made shortly after, sot that at rest completely. When Billings called at your house I determined to track him. Why not tell you then about it? Ask yourself if you:would have believed me. You would have said that I was already in league with Billings.’’ ‘‘T did think so,’’ murmured Clara guiltily. ‘* And I presume you thought I was afraid to face him. Yes? Then you see now that I had to operate alone. I was hiding in the shrubbery when he left your house. It was dark, but you lingered at the gate and so prevented me from leaving my place of concealment until Billings had got so far away that I could not find him. But I had seen his face. I readily saw that Litizki was following me that night and I purposely gave him a chase in order to mask my real purpose. ‘‘When we left the train in the Park Square Station after our return from New York on Friday evening, I recog- nized Billings among those upon the station nlatform,._L. im