The Mission of Poubalov — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

LITIZKI AT WORK. O38 ‘*Dear me! it makes me more nervous than ever,’’ said Mrs. White, laying a hand on Litizki’s arm to restrain him. “‘Do you think, Mr. Litizki, that he has done any- _ thing to Mr. Strobel?”’ **Think!’’ exclaimed the little tailor who seemed on fire with excitement, ‘‘it is the next thing to knowing! Nota word, remember!”’ He tip-toed his way through the hall as if it were night and he were a thief, and cautiously opened the outside door. He touched his hand dramatically to his lips as he closed it behind him, leaving Mrs. White terrified and Miss Pembroke bewildered. Litizki, even ina tumult of rage and desperation, was - not a very impressive man to look at. It would have seemed that his fury could be quelled by a gentle cuff with the open hand, and that his whole being could be _ snuffed out with a vigorous pinch; but if ever man was ter- _ ribly in earnest, he was, anda close observer might have _ noted the danger signals in the formation of his head and in the hang of his lips. This was a man who might be stirred to such depths that his whole shallow nature _ would be in commotion, when discretion would be cast off _ like flecks of foam from an on-rushing wave; and then let _ an enemy be wary, for even a slender arm, like that of the _ little tailor, may strike a fatal blow! ; : ’, It seemed a long, long time to Litizki that Poubalov cone tinued his conversation with Miss Hilman. He dared not _ linger near the house lest the spy should see him from _ & window, or emerge suddenly from the doorway and so : \ » 7 | ‘ _ toward Somerset Street. Arrived there, he turned tone ; _ discover that eager eyes were directed to his movements. _ Litizki slunk into one doorway after another, never stay- _ ing long in one, lest he be warned away with sufficient _ outcry to alarm Poubalov, whose ear, he believed, was acutely tuned to the slightest sounds, and who found untoward significance even in the vagrant breeze. At last the door opened, and Litizki dodged into an open hall,only to flit out again as soon as he saw Poubalov turn