"I must see Baron Oberg upon a matter which affects him personally, and which admits of no delay." He glanced at me quickly, and then in a low voice inquired: "Is it in regard to a--well, a conspiracy ?" His question instantly suggested to me a ruse, and I replied in the affirmative.
"Then you can place the facts before me without the slightest hesitation," he said, going to the door and slipping the bolt into its socket.

"Anything spoken into my ear is as though it were spoken into that of his Excellency himself." "I much regret, M'sieur the Colonel, that I must see the Baron in person." "Has the plot assassination as its object--or revolt ?" he asked pointedly.
"That I will explain to the Baron only." "But I tell you he will not see you.

We have so many persons here with secret information concerning Finnish conspiracies against our Russian rule.

Why, if his Excellency saw everyone who desired to see him, he would be compelled to give audience the whole twenty-four hours round." At a glance I saw that this elegant Colonel, who seemed to take the greatest pride over his exquisitely kept person and his spotless uniform, did not intend to allow me the satisfaction of an audience of that most hated official of the Czar.

The latter was in fear of the dagger, the pistol, or the bomb, and consequently hedged himself in by persons of the Colonel's type--courteous, diplomatic, but utterly unbending.