Read Online Come into my Parlour by Dennis Wheatley - Free Book Online

on your behalf. You would not only travel on a British passport but enjoy the full protection of our Embassy. He seemed quite confident that then, even if you were recognised, you would remain immune from arrest.”
    â€œThat is an idea. I doubt if it would be sufficient protection in ordinary times. The
Ogpu
would arrange that I met with an ‘accident’ and send your Ambassador their regrets. But we Russians are realists. We do not cut off our noses to spite our faces. It is unlikely that they would interfere with me if I have taken British nationality and they are also given reasons to believe that I am fulfilling a useful function with their British Allies.”
    â€œGood. I’m sure that could all be fixed up; and I need hardly say how much I’d like to have you with me; but there would still be the risk of their catching us prying into their affairs.”
    â€œ
Mon ami
, again I can only say to you that I am willing to risk my life if by so doing I can serve my country. But, on the face of it, to return there as the secret agent of a foreign Power seems a strange way to do so.”
    They had reached the long herbaceous border, now a little past its best, but still bright with a multitude of flowers that were just beginning to seed. As they turned back towards the terrace of the house Gregory did not reply and they paced on in silence for a little, two figures apparently much of a height. Actually Gregory was several inches taller than the Russian, but his head was thrust forward as usual in a predatory slouch while Kuporovitch’s broad shoulders and bulky torso were largely offset by the fact that a lifetime of military service caused him to carry himself rigidly erect.
    Gregory was in a quandary. He wanted to be fair to his friend, yet, at the same time he had the interests of his own country to think of. He knew that it would be impossible to accomplish his mission without a reliable interpreter, and that his chances of finding one who would also prove such a courageous and resourceful companion as Kuporovitch were extremely slender. At length he said:
    â€œWhat do you think of Russia’s chances, Stefan? Do you reckon she will be able to hold this German onslaught and stick it out till next spring?”
    â€œOf course she will,” Kuporovitch replied with quiet confidence. “We may have to give much more ground, but that has always been Russia’s strategy. Her war machine is so vast that it will take months to get it into full operation. I doubt even if her mobilisation will becompleted until this time next year. But then you will see. It will indeed be ‘death to the German invaders’!”
    â€œYes. I realise the immensity of Russia’s resources. But the
Blitzkrieg
, with its armoured spearheads racing ahead at fifty miles a day, is a new form of warfare. Isn’t it possible that she might be knocked out by the capture of most of her principal cities before she’s had a chance really to get going?”
    Kuporovitch shook his round bullet-head. “No. We have always believed that one day the Germans would attack us, and years ago Voroshilov, as Commissar for Defence, made his plans accordingly. Today our main munition plants are in places like Sverdlovsk, Omsk, Tobolsk, Petropavlovsk and Cheliabinsk, all right back behind the Urals; and a constant stream of reserve formations will be brought forward into the battle. It will be a hard war for many of our poor people, but even the fall of Leningrad, Kiev, Odessa and Moscow could not put us out of the war, and our soldiers will not lay down their arms while there is one Hitlerite bandit left on Russian soil.”
    Gregory sighed. “How I wish our people would accept your word for all that; then it wouldn’t be necessary for me to make this trip. Still, if you’re convinced of that yourself, Stefan, I can set your conscience at rest. In order to decide on its own future strategy the