The Mission of Poubalov — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

: THE AGENT OF THE CZAR. 45 ‘*You find it difficult to be frank with me,’’ said Pouba- lov, ‘‘and I am not surprised, but you must remember that I am setting the example. It is quite the habit of thought- less persons to apply an opprobrious epithet to my occupa- tion and call me aspy. Well, then, I, Alexander Poubaloy, spy, paid by the government of Russia, tell you who I am, and tell you that at one time Ivan Strobel had reason to fear me.’’ The door bell rang while Poubalov was speaking and Clara heard Mrs. White pattering through the hall to answer it. The man at the door was known to the landlady as Strobel’s tailor, an undersized, forlorn-looking man who seemed always to be struggling with secret woe. She knew that Strobel had been kind to him, and helped him in more ways than mere patronage, and she knew that poor Litizki was as grateful and loyal as a dog. It was with sincere welcome, therefore, that she greeted him, and asked him into the house. ‘*T only came,’’ said the tailor, ‘‘to ask if there is any news of Mr. Strobel? The newspapers say he has disap- peared. ’’ ‘‘We know nothing of him here,’’ answered Mrs. White; “but come in, do! There’s no telling wbo may say the word that will put us all on the right track. Miss Hilman is here, the lady he was to marry, you know. She’s talk ing with a gentleman now in the parlor. I presume she may like to see you.”’ . “T don’t know that I can give her any help,’’ said Litizki, following the landlady into the dining-room, ‘*but I’ll wait a few minutes, for I wanted to know something that the papers do not make clear.’’ He came to a sudden halt as he stepped into the dining- room, where the voices of the persons in the front room were heard much more distinctly than in the hall. ‘‘Who is that talking?’’ he exclaimed in an excited (C(O in whisper. conmc books