It was evident that the unexplained disappearance of Petrovitch must have struck consternation into his employers. I suspected that the Princess Y---- had been summoned to Berlin to throw light on the event, and possibly to be furnished with instructions which would enable her to take over the dead man's work.
My position was now peculiarly difficult. I wished to get in touch with the principals for whom Petrovitch had acted, but to avoid, if possible, meeting any one who had known him personally.
Above all, I was determined not to risk an encounter with Sophia. She knew that I was still alive, and I feared that her feminine intuition, quickened by love, would penetrate through whatever disguise I might adopt.
Under these circumstances I decided to begin by approaching Herr Finkelstein, the head of the imperial Secret Service in Berlin.
This man was an old crony of mine. While a magnificent organizer of espionage, he was a poor observer himself, and I had already succeeded on one occasion in imposing myself on him under a false identity.
I had brought with me the papers which I had obtained by bribery from the police agent Rostoy, representing me as an inspector in the secret police of the Russian Empire.
Wearing my pilot's dress, but carrying these and other papers in my pocket, I presented myself at Finkelstein's office, and asked to see him.
I was shown in first, as I had expected, to Finkelstein's secretary, who asked me my business.
"I can tell that only to the Herr Superintendent himself," I said.
"If you will let him know that I have just come from Petersburg, I am sure he will receive me."
The secretary seemed to think so too. He went straight into his chief's room and came out immediately to fetch me in.
As soon as I found myself alone with the head of the German service, I said quietly,
"I have brought you a message from M. Petrovitch."
"Petrovitch!" exclaimed the Superintendent, surprised out of his usual caution. "But he is dead!"
"You have been misinformed," I replied in an assured tone.
"My informant does not often make mistakes," he observed.
"The Princess is deceived this time, however," was my retort.
It was a fresh surprise for the Superintendent.
"The Princess! Then you know?" He broke off short, conscious that he was making an admission.