Vardri was also kept under
surveillance. It was felt by all that in some quarter treachery lurked
as yet undiscovered, and every man suspected his comrades. There were
indications that someone, hitherto a sworn ally of the Cause, had
turned spy and sold certain information to the authorities.
Even Sobrenski's iron nerves were stretched to breaking point.
The rest tried to drown anxiety in _absinthe_, and all grew daily more
morose and uncertain of temper.
The first sensation came in the shape of a rumour that Count Vladimir's
companion, Pauline Souvaroff, had disappeared.
Only three people knew that she had vanished utterly and completely on
the same day that she had received a communication from the leader.
The note had been brought to her by Vladimir himself. He could guess
at its contents, but Pauline had revealed nothing.
Two hours afterwards when he went on shore she was shut up in her
cabin, and he had not interrupted her, thinking she was asleep. When
he returned, and found her door unlocked, and her cabin empty, a
suspicion of the truth occurred to him.
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