"Do you know where she is?"
Cutty spoke without much outward emotion.
"Not the least idea. Whenever Karlov wanted to quiz me, he appeared late
at night from some other part of the town. But he never got much."
"You saw him this evening?"
"Yes. It probably struck him as a fine joke to send me."
"And if you don't go back?"
"The girl will be taken away. I'm honestly afraid of the man. He's too
quiet spoken. That kind of a man always goes the limit."
"I see. Wait here."
At Cutty's approach Hawksley looked up apathetically.
"Want me?"
"Perhaps."
"You are pale. Anything serious?"
"Yes. Karlov has got Kitty."
For a minute Hawksley did not stir. Then he got up, put away the Amati,
and came back. He was pale, too.
"I understand," he said. "They will exchange her for me. Am I right?"
"Yes. But you are not obliged to do anything like that, you know."
"I am ready."
"You give yourself up?"
"Why not?"
"You're a man!" Cutty burst out.
"I was brought up by one. Honestly, now, could I ever look a white man
in the face again if I didn't give myself up? I did begin to believe
that I might get through. But Fate was only playing with me. May I use
your desk to write a line?"
"Come with me," said Cutty, unsteadily. This was not the result
of environment. Quiet courage of this order was race. No questions
demanding if there wasn't some way round the inevitable. Cutty's heart
glowed; the boy had walked into it, never to leave it. "I'm ready." It
took a man to say that when the sequence was death.
"Coles," said Cutty upon reentering the study, "tell Karlov that His
Highness will give himself up. He will be there before midnight."
"That's enough for me. But if there's the least sign that you're not
playing straight it will be all off. Two men will be watching the taxi
and the entrance. If you appear, it's good-night. They told me to warn
you."
"I promise not to appear."
Coles smiled enigmatically and reached for his hat. He held his hand out
to Hawksley. "You're a white man, sir."
"Thanks," said Hawksley, absently. To have it all over with!
As soon as the captive Federal agent withdrew Hawksley sat down at the
desk and wrote.