“Why should she be in hiding?  She is guilty of no offense—­is she?”

The man shrugged his shoulders, but did not reply.

“And this Baron Oberg?  You tell me nothing of him,” I said with dissatisfaction.

“How can I when I know nothing, Excellency?” was his response.

I felt certain that the fellow was not speaking the truth, for I had noticed his surprise when I had first uttered the mysterious nobleman’s name.

“As I have already said, Excellency, I am desirous of atoning for my insult, and will serve you in every manner I can.  For that reason I had sought news of the young English lady—­the Mademoiselle Heath.”

“But you have all foreigners registered in your books,” I said.  “The search was surely not a difficult one.  I know your police methods in Russia too well,” I laughed.

“No, the lady was not registered,” he said.  “There was a reason.”

“Why?”

“I have told you, Excellency.  She is in hiding.”

“Where?”

“I regret that much as I desire, I dare not appear to have any connection with your quest.  But I will direct you.  Indeed, I will give you instructions to a second person to take you to her.”

“Is she in Abo?”

“No.  Away in the country.  If your Excellency will be down at the end of the quay to-morrow at noon you will find a carriage in waiting, and the driver will have full instructions how to take you to her and how to act.  Follow his directions implicitly, for he is a man I can trust.”

“To-morrow!” I cried anxiously.  “Why not to-day?  I am ready to go at any moment.”

The Chief of Police remained thoughtful for a few moments, then said—­

“Well, if I could find the man, you might go to-day.  Yet it is a long way, and you would not return before to-morrow.”

“The roads are safe, I suppose?  I don’t mind driving in the night.”

The official glanced at the clock, and rising exclaimed—­

“Very well, I will send for the man.  If we find him, then the carriage will be at the same spot at the eastern end of the quay in two hours.”

“At noon.  Very well.  I shall keep the appointment.”

“And after seeing her, you will of course keep your promise of secrecy regarding our little misunderstanding?” he asked anxiously.

“I have already given my word,” was the response; and the man bowed and left, much, I think, to the surprise of the hotel-proprietor and his staff.  It was an unusual thing for such a high official as the Chief of Police to visit one of their guests in person.  If he desired to interview any of them, he commanded them to attend at his office, or they were escorted there by his gray-coated agents.

The day was cold, with a biting wind from the icy north, when after a hasty luncheon I put on my overcoat and strolled along the deserted quay where I lounged at the further end, watching the approach of a great pontoon of pine logs that had apparently floated out of one of the rivers and was now being navigated to the port by four men who seemed every moment in imminent danger of being washed off the raft into the sea as the waves broke over and drenched them.  They had, however, lashed themselves to their raft, I saw, and now slowly piloted the great floating platform towards the quay.