There was a deadly coldness in the man's manner which seemed to vouch for the validity of those reasons which he did not submit to the judgment of any.
“Five thousand roubles,” he concluded. “And in exchange I give you the date--so that Poland may be ready.”
“Thank you,” said Kosmaroff, who had regained his composure as suddenly as he had lost it. “I decline--for myself and for the whole of Poland. We play a cleaner game than that.”
He turned and took up his hat, and his hand shook as he did it.
“If I did not know that you are a patriot according to your lights--if I did not know something of your story, and of those reasons that you do not give--I should take you by the throat and throw you out into the street for daring to make such a proposal to me,” he said, in a low voice.
“To a deserter from a Cossack regiment,” suggested the other.
“To me,” repeated Kosmaroff, touching himself on the breast and standing at his full height. No one spoke, as if the silent spell of History were again for a moment laid upon their tongues.
“Captain Cable,” said Kosmaroff, “you and I have met before, and I learned enough of you then to tell you now that this is no place for you, and these men no company for you. I am going--will you come?”
“I'm agreeable,” said Captain Cable, dusting his hat.
When they were out in the street, he turned to Kosmaroff and looked up into his face with bright and searching eyes.
“Who's that man?” he asked, as if there had been only one in the room.
“I do not know his name,” replied Kosmaroff.
They were standing on the doorstep. The dirty man had closed the door behind them, and, turning on his heel, Kosmaroff looked thoughtfully at the dusty woodwork of it. Half absent-mindedly he extended one finger and made a design on the door. It was not unlike a Greek cross.
Captain Cable followed the motion of his companion's finger.
“I've heard of him,” he said. “And I heard his voice--sort of soft-spoken--on Hamburg quay one night, many years ago. That is why I refused the job and came out with you.”
More especially in northern countries nature lays her veto upon the activity of men, and winter calls a truce even to human strife. Cartoner awaited orders in London, for all the world was dimly aware of something stirring in the north, and no one knew what to expect or where to look for the unexpected.