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I’m trying not to mislead you.”
    â€œI’m puzzled, Irina. Who is it you’re betraying—Oleg or me?”
    â€œNeither. I’ve brought you his message. I urge you to go to Spain.”
    He said, “Oleg’s always tended to be more devious than necessary. He’s been infatuated with you for years.”
    â€œI know.” She said it indifferently. “I’m afraid I don’t feel it puts me under an obligation to him. I’m not responsible for Oleg’s emotional foolishness.”
    â€œBut you came.”
    â€œTo see you.”
    â€œWhat’s Vassily’s place in this?”
    â€œThey’ve coalesced—the factions. Oleg’s Socialists, the old-line liberal aristocracy, the reactionaries, even the partisans of each of the Pretenders. They’ve formed a consortium. It’s the first time they’ve ever worked together. Even during the Civil War they were always at loggerheads—Prince Leon insists that’s why we lost Russia to the Bolsheviks.”
    â€œWhat’s that got to do with Vassily?”
    â€œThey’re planning something military. Vassily’s been selected to command it.”
    â€œCommand what? There’s no White Russian army—only a scattered pack of old-time exiles.”
    â€œI can’t say, Alex. I do know that Vassily’s at the center of it.”
    â€œWhatever their scheme is—is it his idea?”
    â€œNo; they brought him into it recently. He’s been in England you know—he’s still got a commission with the Free Poles.”
    â€œWhere is he now?”
    â€œI don’t know. He’s in hiding. There’ve been threats on his life—someone’s tried to kill him.”
    His belly churned. After a moment he said. “Why?”
    â€œWe’re not sure. Apparently Vassily wants to believe it’s someone from the past—someone with a grudge. It’s plausible, isn’t it? His arrogance must have made him a good many enemies.”
    â€œBut you don’t believe it’s that.”
    â€œI’m not certain—Prince Leon thinks it must be someone who’s trying to stop them by assassinating Vassily. He’s the key to it all—he’s the leader they’ve chosen to command it. Without Vassily the rest of them might not know how to proceed.”
    He thought of Prince Leon, kindly and craggy, the best of the lot of them.
    â€œWill you come with me?”
    â€œI’ve got orders. I’m not a free agent.”
    â€œIt’s been arranged for you.”
    He shot her a sharp glance. “You just keep chucking stones in the pond, don’t you? How do you mean that?”
    â€œWith your War Department. Don’t look so dubious, Alex. There’s an American colonel at Fort McNair who will arrange everything for you.”
    He was working at the puzzle in his mind. “Is it their idea to throw in with Germany against the Bolsheviks?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYou said that very fast.”
    Her eyes flickered. “Would Prince Leon have anything to do with the Hitler gang? Would Oleg? Alex, I’ve told you all I can. What have you to lose? I’ve made no conditions.”
    Her eyes glinted in the lamplight. She reached for the Du Mauriers on the coffee table and leaned forward to accept a light from his match. She held his glance; he felt ripples of flame. “You’ll come, won’t you?”
    But he made no immediate answer. He watched her throw her head back to sigh smoke toward the ceiling: he watched the long curve of her throat. She said, “It’s Vassily of course. You don’t want to have to work with him. What happened between you in Finland?”
    â€œDidn’t he tell you?”
    â€œNo. I only know it cost him his command. He said it was between the two of you. It’s turned him bitter, you know.”
    â€œIt was his own fault.”
    â€œWhat was