"How much can you do with till the fleet sails?" I asked, still in the same matter-of-fact tone.

Fairly nonplussed, the Captain blurted out,

"I should like two thousand."

I shook my head.

"I can let you have only a thousand now, but you shall have the balance this day week." I counted the thousand rubles, and handed them to him. "They are grumbling, rather, in Berlin over the expense."

It was, of course, my object to give Va.s.sileffsky no opening for a cross-examination, but to take it for granted that we were on confidential terms.

At the word "Berlin" he opened his eyes pretty wide.

"Does this money come from Germany?" he exclaimed, half-withdrawing his hand.

I affected surprise in my turn.

"You have not received any information at all, apparently! My message must have miscarried. Didn't the Princess see you?"

Va.s.sileffsky looked still more surprised. His demeanor taught me a good deal. I saw that Petrovitch had not trusted him very far. The financier had evidently kept all the threads of the intrigue in his own hands, as far as possible.

So much the better, I reflected. His removal would disorganize matters even more thoroughly than I had ventured to hope.

"What Princess?" the Captain asked.

"The Princess Y----, of course."

He brightened up a little, as though this name, at all events, was familiar.

"No, she has not been here."

"One can never trust these women," I muttered aloud. "She has not been at all the same since the death of her Englishman."

"Of Sterling, do you mean?"

"Yes. You heard of it, I suppose?"

Va.s.sileffsky grinned.

"Rather sudden, wasn't it?"

I smiled meaningly, as I retorted,

"You remember he fainted rather unexpectedly that night he dined with me."

A look of relief broke out on Va.s.sileffsky's face, as I thus referred to an incident which he naturally supposed could be known only to Petrovitch.

"My dear fellow, I beg a thousand pardons for my stupid conduct last night," he burst out. "But you must admit that your disguise is extraordinary."

"Not a word!" I returned. "It is always better to err on the side of distrust. Besides, I wished to spend a night on your ship in any case. Your crew can be thoroughly depended on, if I am any judge."

"They would bombard the Tower of London, if I gave the word," boasted Va.s.sileffsky.

It is extraordinary how widely the belief prevails on the Continent of Europe that the London Tower is still a fortress, charged with the protection of the British capital.

"At all events, they will not be frightened by the sight of the Union Jack?" I returned.

The Russian officer gave me an alarmed glance.

"You do not mean--you are not asking us to fire on the British fleet?"

"No, no," I rea.s.sured him.

"Ah, that is all right. For the moment I confess you frightened me.

They say we shall have to pa.s.s Admiral Beresford!"

"What are you prepared to do?" I asked, concealing my deep interest in the reply.

Va.s.sileffsky's manner became slightly reproachful.

"You did not bargain with me to attack an armed ship," he said in the tone of one who reminds another of his agreement. "It was understood that we were to attack merchantmen, like the Vladivostockers."

At last I had a direct confirmation of my suspicions.

"And what is the tone of the fleet generally?" I inquired.

"I have done my best to make them all of the same mind. They will do their best, depend on it. I think there will be a few English vessels mysteriously lost at sea during the next two or three months! The prize courts cannot always be depended on."

By an effort I restrained my indignation at these atrocious hints.

The Baltic Fleet was about to seek the open sea, secretly intending to miss no chance of sinking a British merchantman that should be unlucky enough to cross its path.

It was with a feeling of chagrin that I perceived it would be useless to send any message to Lord Bedale of what was in preparation. On certain subjects the British people are deaf and blind. They believe that all foreign statesmen are as high-minded as a Gladstone, and all foreign officials as scrupulous and truthful as the Chevalier Bayard himself.

Captain Va.s.sileffsky continued,

"Our men are badly scared by reports of the j.a.panese plans. It is supposed that they have torpedo boats lurking in the English ports.

Hull is said to be full of them."

"Why, Hull?"

Va.s.sileffsky gave me a wink.

"Hull is the great fishing center. Whole fleets of traders come out from there to the fishing banks in the North Sea. We are going to stir them up a bit."

The outlines of the plot became every moment more clear.

"On what pretext?" I asked.