"Forgive me for laughing. General Markoff. But it is really too
humorous--all this transparency."
"What transparency?"
"The transparency of your attempt to terrify me," I said. "I know that
the attempt made against the young lady and myself failed--and that His
Imperial Highness the Grand Duke was unfortunately killed. But I do not
think there will be any second attempt."
"You don't think so!" he cried quickly. "Why don't you think so?"
"For the simple reason that Danilo Danilovitch--the man who is a
police-spy and at the same time responsible for plots--is just now a
little too well watched."
The man's grey face dropped when I uttered the name of his catspaw. My
statement, I saw, held him confounded and confused.
"I--I do not understand you," he managed to exclaim. "What do you
mean?"
"Well, you surely know Danilovitch?" I said. "He is your most trusted
and useful _agent-provocateur_. He is at this moment in England. I can
take you now to where he is in hiding, if you wish," I added, with a
smile of triumph.
"Danilovitch," he repeated, as though trying to recall the name.
"Yes," I said defiantly, standing with my hands in my trousers pockets
and leaning against the table placed in the centre of the room.
"Danilovitch--the shoemaker of Kazan and murderer of Marie Garine, the
poor little tailoress in Petersburg."
His face dropped. He saw that I was aware of the man's identity.
"He is now staying with a compatriot in Blurton Road, Lower Clapton," I
went on.
"I don't see why this person should interest me," he interrupted.
"But he is a conspirator. General Markoff; and I am giving you some
valuable information," I said, with sarcasm.
"You are not a police officer. What can you know?"
"I know several facts which, when placed before the Revolutionary
Committee--as they probably are by this time--will make matters
exceedingly unpleasant for Danilo Danilovitch, and also for certain of
those who have been employing him," was my quiet response.
"If this man is a dangerous revolutionist, as you allege, he cannot be
arrested while in England," remarked the General, his thick grey
eyebrows contracting slightly, a sign of apprehension. "This country of
yours gives asylum to all the most desperate characters, and half the
revolutionary plots in Europe are arranged in London."
"I do not dispute that," I said. "But I was discussing the highly
interesting career of this Danilo Danilovitch. If there is any attempt
upon Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Natalia, as you fear, it
will be by that individual. General. Therefore I would advise your
department to keep close observation upon him. He is lodging at Number
30B, Blurton Road. And," I added, "if you should require any further
particulars concerning him, I daresay I shall be in a position to
furnish them."
"Why do you suspect him?"
"Because of information which has reached me--information which shows
that it was his hand which launched the fatal bomb which killed the
Grand Duke Nicholas. His Imperial Highness was actually killed by an
agent of Secret Police! When that fact reaches the Emperor's ears there
will, I expect, be searching inquiry."
"Have you actual proof of this?" he asked in a thick, hoarse voice, his
cheeks paler than before.
"Yes. Or at least my informant has. The traitor was recognised among
the crowd; he was seen to throw the bomb."
General Markoff remained silent. He saw himself checkmated. His secret
was out. He had intended to raise a false scare of a probable attempt
at Brighton in order to terrify me, but, to his amazement, I had shown
myself conversant with his methods and aware of the truth concerning the
mysterious outrage in which the Grand Duke Nicholas had lost his life.
From his demeanour and the keen cunning look in his steely eyes I
gathered that he was all eagerness to know the exact extent of my
knowledge concerning Danilo Danilovitch.
Therefore, after some further conversation, I said boldly:
"I expect that, ere this, the Central Committee of the People's Will has
learned the truth regarding their betrayer--this man to whose initiative
more than half of the recent plots have been due--and how he was in the
habit of furnishing your department with the lists of suspects and those
chosen to carry out the outrage. But, of course, General," I added,
with a bitter smile, "you would probably not know of this manufacture of
plots by one in the pay of the Police Department."
"Of course not," the unscrupulous official assured me. "I surely cannot
be held responsible for the action of underlings. I only act upon
reports presented to me."