The Mission of Poubalov — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

POUBALOV SUCCEEDS. 235 Palovna, flushing; ‘‘I regarded you as our enemy, and when I saw you with Strobel helpless in your possession, my worst suspicions were confirmed. I——’’ ‘*You could have shot me with a clear conscience! I un- derstand and I understood then. You are a loyal friend, Paul Palovna, and I owe you my life, not on this occa- sion, perhaps, but at that other time—no matter! The past is past and things are as they are! The short of it is, Miss Hilman, that we satisfied Palovna that matters were not as bad as they looked, and, as you see, he came along with us. We went to Mr. Pembroke’s. As you were not there, we cattin directly here. And that, I think, is the whole story.’’ Clara was weeping silently, and Ivan stood with his arm around her. There was a moment of silence, and then the party was disturbed by a hubbub in the hall below. It proved to be nothing serious. Mike had been ordered by his employer to return. He, too, had called at Mr. Pembroke’s and so found his way to the tavern, and coming upon Patterson he had proceeded to thump him. Poubalov separated the antagonists, and went back to the © chamber with the candle. The others stood under the porch, for the front door had been opened by Patterson, until he returned. ‘Tf there is anything more to be said,’’ he remarked, ‘‘we'd better go to Mr. Pembroke’s.”’ Poubalov did not remain long with the lovers whom he had reunited. The supreme will of his imperial majesty, he gravely declared, would not permit of his lingering a moment after the accomplishment of his mission. It would give him profound pleasure to report that Mr. Stro- bel was too firmly attached to America to feel, much less commit hostility to the empire of the czar. And so he took his leave, Clara alone realizing that all well-meant efforts to detain him were calculated to give him needless pain. Mr. Pembroke recovered rapidly under the relief occa- sioned by the reappearance of Ivan, for whose absence