“Yes, Excellence, the wolf knows the forest and its ways,” said the Jew. “We must be wise about it, for there is no tax on wisdom. It would be well for me to bring Rimsky to the house and question him about what he knows—and what he said to Ilya.” “You say you do not trust Rimsky,” said Katerin. “You say he is a liar—and may be a spy for the Ataman. Even if the American asked Rimsky about us, Rimsky might lie about it—and even if he tells the truth, whatever he says we will mistrust it. And we must be careful that we do not set his tongue wagging in the city. Till we have thought more about it, we must be most cautious.” “Then shall I ask the American about it, mistress?” asked the Jew. “No, thank you—I shall go and see the American myself.” “See the American yourself!” gasped Michael in astonishment. “Yes, I shall see him,” replied Katerin calmly. “That is the simplest and best way to learn what we want to know.” “That is sensible,” agreed Slipitsky. “You mean that you will go and tell him who you are?” demanded Michael, his horror intensifying at the idea the more he realized that Katerin meant what she was saying. “He may know who I am when he sees me,” said Katerin. “It must not be done, my daughter,” said Michael, his agitation only growing. “We can trust no one, especially not a strange man who comes from whom we know not. This is no time to be rash, and I cannot let you put yourself into danger.” “If this American has come seeking Michael Kirsakoff and his daughter, will he not have descriptions of us? And if he is not seeking us, how is he to know who I am? I shall not tell him my name, you may be assured of that, unless he knows me—or unless he tells me that he seeks us. So what can the danger be, my father?” “There is some truth in what you say,” admitted Michael, as he resumed eating the partridge. “If he knows you, he knows, and that would mean he has come from friends. But if he does not recognize you, and he does not tell you that he is seeking us, what have you learned? And how are you to go talking with a man you do not know? I tell you you must not take risks on what Ilya has said!” “That is wisdom,” assented the Jew, nodding his head slowly. “You must always test the ice before you walk upon it, else you will find yourself in the river with the fish.” “Tell me, where is the room of the American?” asked Katerin. “The other way—down at the end of the hall with windows that look up the Sofistkaya, mistress.” “Can you put us in rooms near him?” “Yes, mistress, I could. When Dazo goes out later in the day, it can be accomplished secretly. Is it that you intend to watch the American? You will see little of him if he keeps to his room as he has.” “What good would it do us to watch him?” asked Michael. “It would tell us nothing to see him going and coming.”