“I’m so glad you came!” she said, in a voice that trembled with relief. “I could not have come had I thought there would have been so much delay,” he returned rather stiffly. “I have purposely delayed. I confess it.” “Why?--after you desired to get me here in haste?” “To make certain of keeping you here as long as possible. I have just discovered you are in great danger.” “Danger from what?” “I know only in a vague way. In moving among the officials I pick up hints of things; that is my value as a revolutionist. From what I have heard-- But promise to tell no one you learned this from me. It might ruin me among the officials and thus ruin my worth to the cause.” “I promise.” “From what I have just heard, you and your group are in danger of arrest.” “Immediate arrest?” cried Drexel. “This evening. Within the hour.” “Good-night, countess!” And seizing his cap he sprang for the door. But she caught his arm. “No! No! You must not go!” “But I must warn the others!” “It’s too late! Even now the police may be there. You can do nothing.” His mind saw Sonya, alone, with gendarmes pouring in upon her. “Let go!” he cried fiercely. “Let go!” He tore her hand from his arm, but she threw her back against the door, panting, her dark eyes flashing wildly. “If you go, it’s to your certain death!” she gasped. “Prince Berloff has arranged this. He will see that you do not escape. He wants to kill you.” “Why?” “If you could be killed--by accident--with no blame attaching to him--is there not some way in which it would benefit him?” “Yes. But, countess--you must let me pass!” “It will be to your death!” “Perhaps. But I must warn the others!” “No! No! I will not let you!” she cried. “You leave me no other way!” and seizing her wrists he dragged her struggling from the door. He shook off her hands that again sought to detain him, and plunged down the stairway--leaving her collapsed upon the floor, white, motionless, on her face a stare of ghastly horror. He leaped into his waiting sleigh and thrust a five-ruble note into the driver’s hands. “Back--at your best speed!” he cried--and though the driver laid the end of his lines upon the flanks of his galloping horse, Drexel constantly breathed, “Faster! Faster!” He imagined every disaster as befalling Sonya. But when he had reëntered the little court, and rushed up the stairway, and burst into the room, it was to find Sonya still safely there--and not so poorly defended as he had thought, for Freeman was with her. “Come,” he said breathlessly, “we must fly! The police may be here any moment!” Sonya went suddenly white. “Then they have found out our plan?” “I do not know. But we’re in instant danger of arrest. Come!” “What! Desert our plan?” demanded Freeman. “Desert Borodin?” “But how will our being arrested aid him?” “I do not believe there is any danger,” returned Freeman. His thin lips curled slightly with disdain. “Somebody’s fear has got the better of his nerve!”