"If they answered at once we might hear during the night. It all depends on things at the other end. The Minister might be away, and no one else would take the responsibility. But I will have an orderly waiting at this end so as to lose no time." "Well, I can do this for you," said Palma. "We will travel easily and make no undue speed. If you receive a favourable reply after we have left, a messenger can catch us. For your sake, Mr. Palma, and for Madame's, we will hope it may be so." "That will do," said Sokolof. "Now--the telegram." He hunted up an official form and began to write-- "To the Minister of the Interior. Concerning political prisoner Palma ordered to Yakutsk. Typhus raging here"--"that's straining a point, but it probably will be soon"--"Palma's services as doctor urgently needed----" "Say that the Governor is at the point of death," suggested Palma. "Good! That is stronger still," and he wrote in the addition, and continued, thinking it out word by word--"Beg your permission retain prisoner here for present. See my letters." At which the lieutenant laughed out loud. "My dear Captain," he said, "those last words would lose you both your place and your request. His Excellency is not accustomed to be addressed in so terse a fashion as that. His reply would probably be, 'Tell Captain Sokolof to go to the devil--or to Yakutsk,' which is pretty much the same thing. Level it up to his altitude, my dear sir, or worse will come of it. It might do for the office, but it won't do for the big man himself." "It does read a bit brusque," said Sokolof, looking at the objectionable words. "What do you suggest?" "You can't make it too flowery. I would suggest--'Crave your Excellency's gracious perusal of my letters concerning this prisoner.' When would your letters reach them, Captain?" "Weeks ago, months ago. Before you left, certainly." "Of course, I forgot. It is to those letters that you attribute their present action and my presence here." "Yes," said Sokolof, looking sober. "I was forgetting that." "Is it wise to refer to the letters at all, think you? Why not base your request solely on the ground of the typhus?" Sokolof considered the point, tapping the pencil up and down between his teeth. "That is," continued Palma, "if you are quite decided on sending the telegram at all. It is doubtful if any good will come of it, and as far as you yourself are concerned it would undoubtedly be safer not to interfere." "It shall go," said Sokolof obstinately. "They may break me if they like, but Palma saved my life and I do not forget." He finished the telegram and gave it to his orderly to despatch at once, bidding him at the same time station a messenger at the office to bring him the answer without delay at whatever hour it might arrive.