“I want to know what has become of Ivan Snokoff.”

“I know not.”

“You worked for him. How came you to close up the offices so unexpectedly?”

“By my master’s orders.”

“Do you know he owes our company a great deal of money?”

[Pg 10]

[Pg 10]

At this the young Russian shrugged his shoulders.

“What have I to do with that? You made your bargain with him, not with me.”

“That is true, but if you are honest you will not mind telling me where he is.”

“Have I not said that I do not know?” The clerk hesitated and then squinted at Gilbert suggestively. “No, I cannot tell you where Ivan Snokoff is, but—but——”

“But what?”

“Sire, I am a poor man, and I have a wife and two children to support.”

“You are too young to have a wife and two children.”

“No, sire, it is true. I was seventeen when I was married, and Ulma, my wife, was but fifteen.”

“Do you mean to say you need money?”

“It is true. Ivan Snokoff left me without work, and owing me money. I have next to nothing saved. To-day I am moving my family to poorer quarters. In another two weeks my money will all be gone.”

“What has all this to do with me?”

“’Tis plain enough, sire. You need information, Nicholas Vanskynov needs money. Let us make an exchange.”

[Pg 11]

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