PIKE [grimly].  No; he made it clear to me.  Two years in jail is the minimum, and if I don’t make up my mind by ten o’clock [VASILI looks at his watch] to do what he wants me to do—­

VASILI.  What does he want you to do?

PIKE.  The young lady’s father trusted me to look after her, and if I won’t promise to let her pay seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars for that—­well, you’ve seen it around here, haven’t you—­

VASILI.  I have observed it—­that is, if you refer to the son of Lord Hawcastle.

PIKE.  Well, if I don’t consent to do that, I reckon Ivanoff has to go back to Siberia and you and I to jail.

VASILI.  He threatens that?

PIKE.  He’ll do that!

VASILI [looking at him sharply].  What do you mean to do?

PIKE.  There wouldn’t be any trouble about it if it was only me.  That would make it easy.  They could land me for two years [swallowing painfully] or twenty.  What makes it so hard is that I can’t do what they want, even to let you and Ivanoff out.  It ain’t my money.  All I can do is to ask you to forgive me, and warn you to get away before they come down on me.  This feller’s got me, Doc.  Don’t you see how it stands?  Ivanoff can’t get away—­

VASILI.  No; I think he can’t.

PIKE.  They’ve got this militia all around the place.

VASILI.  I passed through the cordon of carabiniere as I came in.

PIKE. [urgently].  But you could get away, Doc.  Up to ten o’clock you can come and go as you choose.

VASILI [rising].  So can you.  You have not thought of that?

PIKE.  No; and I won’t think of it.  But as for you—­

VASILI.  As for me [rings bell near door]—­I shall go!

PIKE.  That’s part of the load off my mind.  I can’t bear to think of the rest of it.  I haven’t known how to tell that poor fellow in there.

[Valet enters.]

VASILI [to valet, indicating the door on the right].  Appellez le
Monsieur la.

[Valet goes to the door, opens it, bowing slightly to IVANOFF, who appears.  Valet withdraws.]

[IVANOFF is very pale and haggard looking, but his clothes have been mended and neatly brushed.  He comes in slowly and quietly.]

VASILI [in the tone of a superior].  You may come in, Ivanoff.  Some unexpected difficulties have arisen.  Your presence here has been discovered by persons who wish evil to this gentleman who has protected you.  He can do nothing further to save you unless he betrays a trust which has been left to him.

[IVANOFF swallows painfully, and looks pitifully from VASILI to PIKE.]

PIKE [coming down to IVANOFF, standing before him humbly].  It’s the truth, old man.  I can’t do it.

[IVANOFF’S head falls forward on his chest.]

IVANOFF [in a low voice].  I thank you for what you have tried to do for me.

[Gives PIKE his hand.  PIKE turns away.]