"The prisoner, your Excellency, desired to be brought here to you before being taken to Helsingfors. He said you would be aware of the facts." "And so I am," remarked Boranski, with a smile. "There is no conspiracy. You must at once release this gentleman and the other two prisoners." "But, Excellency, the Governor-General has issued orders for the prisoner's arrest and deportation to Helsingfors." "That may be. But I am Chief of Police in Abo, and I release him." The officer looked at me in such blank astonishment that I could not resist smiling. "I am well aware of the reason of this Englishman's visit to the north," added Boranski. "More need not be said. Has the lady been arrested?" "No, your Excellency. Every effort is being made to find her. Colonel Smirnoff has already been relieved of his post as Governor of Kajana, and many of the guards are under arrest for complicity in the plot to allow the woman to escape." "Ah, yes. I see from the despatches that a reward is offered for her recapture." "The Governor-General is determined that she shall not escape," remarked the other. "She is probably hidden in the forest, somewhere or other." "Of course. They are making a thorough search over every verst of it. If she is there, she will most certainly be found." "No doubt," remarked Boranski, leaning back in his padded chair and looking at me meaningly across the littered table. "And now I wish to speak to this Englishman privately, so please leave us. Also inform the other two prisoners that they are at liberty." "But your Excellency does this upon his own responsibility," he said anxiously. "Remember that I brought them to you under arrest." "And I release them entirely at my own discretion," he said. "As Chief of Police of this province, I am permitted to use my jurisdiction, and I exercise it in this matter. You are liberty to report that at Helsingfors, if you so desire, but I should suggest that you say nothing unless absolutely obliged--you understand?" The manner in which Boranski spoke apparently decided my captor, for after a moment's hesitation he said, saluting: "If that is really your wish, then I will obey." And he left. "Excellency!" exclaimed the Chief of Police, rising quickly and walking towards me as soon as the door was closed, and we were alone, "you have had a very narrow escape--very. I did my best to assist you. I succeeded in bribing the water-guards at Kajana in order that you might secure the lady's release. But it seems that just at the very moment when you were about to get away one of the guards turned informer and roused the governor of the castle, with the result that you all three nearly lost your lives. The whole matter has been reported to me officially, and," he added with a grim smile, "my men are now searching everywhere for you." "But why is Baron Oberg so extremely anxious to recapture Miss Heath?" I asked earnestly.