Stand there in the light, please, and fold your arms.
Thanks. Do not think that I am afraid of you, but I like to talk
comfortably."
"I am at monsieur's service," the man said in a low tone.
"Exactly. Now, Emil, before starting to visit you I left a little
note behind addressed to the chief of the police here--no, you
need not start--to be sent to him only if my return were unduly
delayed. You can guess what that note contained. It is not
necessary for us to revert to--unpleasant subjects."
The man moistened his dry lips.
"It is not necessary," he repeated. "Monsieur is as safe here--from
me--as at his own hotel."
"Excellent!" Mr. Sabin said. "Now listen, Emil. It has pleased me
chiefly, as you know, for the sake of your wife, the good Annette,
to be very merciful to you as regards the past. But I do not
propose to allow you to run a poison bureau for the advantage of the
Prince of Saxe Leinitzer and his friends--more especially, perhaps,
as I am at present upon his list of superfluous persons."
The man trembled.
"Monsieur," he said, "the Prince knows as much as you know, and he
has not the mercy that one shows to a dog."
"You will find," Mr. Sabin said, "that if you do not obey me, I
myself can develop a similar disposition. Now answer me this! You
have within the last few days supplied several people with that
marvelous powder for the preparation of which you are so justly
famed.
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