He looked very serious. “You will go to-morrow. Good. Now go to your room; eat, drink, smoke, sleep, do not come out until the train is ready. I speak for your own good. Do that.” The police-master had not mentioned the purpose for which I was staying in Port Arthur. I knew that he meant the Anti-British feeling was so intense that my nationality alone might suffice to get me into trouble with some of the more rowdy officers in the fortress. I took the risk and that day again visited every accessible place of importance. I did not visit the police-station, but as evening drew near it occurred to me that Tsintsius would again be busy. I thought I might avoid him for one night. At that time there were in Port Arthur two foreigners having the same surname, say Smith. Harry was an American; Will was British. Harry had invited me to spend the week end with his mess in the New Town, and although I could not do that now, it would serve me to spend the night there. Accordingly I looked him up. He was sorry, but one of his messmates, a Russian, thought that if they in any way were known to be associates of mine, they might have trouble with the authorities, and certainly would be suspected. He thought his namesake would be pleased to give me a bed, and he knew he had a spare room. Will was not at home. Close by there lived an American who kept open house, and Harry suggested we should go there for a time. So we paid an afternoon call, took tea, and made the acquaintance of other visitors, including a naval officer whose turn it was to take duty on Golden Hill fort in charge of the naval gunners then stationed there. He was due in the battery at dusk, but seemed in no hurry to get away. We returned to Will’s house, where Harry left me. After dinner Will proposed that we should go to the American’s again and take a hand at cards. When we arrived I was told that shortly after I had left the police called, searching for me. They were informed that I had left with Harry Smith, and to his house they hurried. He had not reached home. They visited his office, called upon all of his associates they could find, but none had seen me recently. The police then searched the Old Town thoroughly from the Bund to the market, from the _Hotel de France_ to the hop-joints of far away China Town. When I left that house at midnight the naval officer was still there, determined to remain until morning. Half a dozen other officers had joined the party; the piano was going; corks were popping; fresh packs of cards and chalk, glasses and crisp rouble notes crowded the green-cloth tables. That was Port Arthur. Outside was utter darkness: the oppressive silence of suspense--broken at long intervals by the reverberation of cannon presaging a more anxious morrow.