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The Secret of the Night
by Gaston Leroux

CONTENTS

ChapterI



THEWATCHIV GAYETY AND DYNAMITEII

NATACHAIII

THE YOUTH OF Moscow Is DEAD

V BY ROULETABILLE'S ORDER THE GENERAL PROMENADES

VI THE MYSTERIOUS HAND
VII ARSENATE OF SODA
VIII THE LITTLE CHAPEL OF THE GUARDS
IX ANNOUCHEA
X A DRAMA IN THE NIGHT
XI THE POISON CONTINUES
XII PERE ALEXIS
XIII THE LIVING BOMBS
XIV THE MARSHES
XV "I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU" XVI BEFORE THE REVOLUTIONARY TRIBUNAL
XVII THE LAST CRAVAT
XVIII A SINGULAR EXPERIENCE
XIX THE TSAR

THE SECRET OF THE NIGHT

GAYETY AND DYNAMITE

BARINIA, the young stranger has arrived.

Where is he?

Oh, he is waiting at the lodge.

I told you to show him to Natacha's sitting-room. Didn't you
understand me, Ermolai?

Pardon, Barinia, but the young stranger, when I asked to search
him, as you directed, flatly refused to let me.

Did you explain to him that everybody is searched before being
allowed to enter, that it is the order, and that even my mother
herself has submitted to it?

I told him all that, Barinia; and I told him about madame your
mother.


What did he say to that?

That he was not madame your mother. He acted angry.

Well, let him come in without being searched.

The Chief of Police won't like it.

Do as I say.

Ermolai bowed and returned to the garden. The "barinia" left the
verandawhere she had come for this conversation with the old
servant of General Trebassofher husbandand returned to the
dining-room in the datcha des Ileswhere the gay Councilor Ivan
Petrovitch was regaling his amused associates with his latest
exploit at Cubat's resort. They were a noisy companyand certainly
the quietest among them was not the generalwho nursed on a sofa
the leg which still held him captive after the recent attackthat
to his old coachman and his two piebald horses had proved fatal.
The story of the always-amiable Ivan Petrovitch (a livelylittle
elderly man with his head bald as an egg) was about the evening
before. After havingas he saidrecure la bouche for these
gentlemen spoke French like their own language and used it among
themselves to keep their servants from understanding - after having
wet his whistle with a large glass of sparkling rosy French wine
he cried:

You would have laughed, Feodor Feodorovitch. We had sung songs
on the Barque* and then the Bohemians left with their music and we

[*The Barque" is a restaurant on a boatamong the isles
near the Gulf of Finlandon a bank of the Neva.]

went out onto the river-bank to stretch our legs and cool our faces
in the freshness of the dawnwhen a company of Cossacks of the
Guard came along. I knew the officer in command and invited him to
come along with us and drink the Emperor's health at Cubat's place.
That officerFeodor Feodorovitchis a man who knows vintages and
boasts that he has never swallowed a glass of anything so common as
Crimean wine. When I named champagne he cried'Vive l'Empereur!'
A true patriot. So we startedmerry as school-children. The
entire company followedthen all the diners playing little whistles
and all the servants besidessingle file. At Cubat's I hated to
leave the companion-officers of my friend at the doorso I invited
them intoo. They acceptednaturally. But the subalterns were
thirsty as well. I understand discipline. You knowFeodor
Feodorovitchthat I am a stickler for discipline. Just because
one is gay of a spring morningdiscipline should not be forgotten.
I invited the officers to drink in a private roomand sent the
subalterns into the main hall of the restaurant. Then the soldiers
were thirstytooand I had drinks served to them out in the
courtyard. Thenmy wordthere was a perplexing businessfor now
the horses whinnied. The brave horsesFeodor Feodorovitchwho
also wished to drink the health of the Emperor. I was bothered
about the discipline. Hallcourtall were full. And I could not
put the horses in private rooms. WellI made them carry out
champagne in pails and then came the perplexing business I had tried
so hard to avoida grand mixture of boots and horse-shoes that was
certainly the liveliest thing I have ever seen in my life. But the
horses were the most joyousand danced as if a torch was held under
their nostrilsand all of themmy word! were ready to throw their
riders because the men were not of the same mind with them as to
the route to follow! From our window we laughed fit to kill at such
a mixture of sprawling boots and dancing hoofs. But the troopers


finally got all their horses to barrackswith patiencefor the
Emperor's cavalry are the best riders in the worldFeodor
Feodorovitch. And we certainly had a great laugh! - Your health
Matrena Petrovna."
These last graceful words were addressed to Madame Trebassofwho
shrugged her shoulders at the undesired gallantry of the gay
Councilor. She did not join in the conversationexcepting to
calm the generalwho wished to send the whole regiment to the
guard-housemen and horses. And while the roisterers laughed over
the adventure she said to her husband in the advisory voice of the
helpful wife:

Feodor, you must not attach importance to what that old fool Ivan
tells you. He is the most imaginative man in the capital when he
has had champagne.

Ivan, you certainly have not had horses served with champagne in
pails,the old boasterAthanase Georgevitchprotested jealously.
He was an advocatewell-known for his table-featswho claimed the
hardest drinking reputation of any man in the capitaland he
regretted not to have invented that tale.

On my word! And the best brands! I had won four thousand
roubles. I left the little fete with fifteen kopecks.

Matrena Petrovna was listening to Ermolaithe faithful country
servant who wore alwayseven here in the cityhis habit of fresh
nankeenhis black leather belthis large blue pantaloons and his
boots glistening like icehis country costume in his master's city
home. Madame Matrena roseafter lightly stroking the hair of her
step-daughter Natachawhose eyes followed her to the door
indifferent apparently to the tender manifestations of her father's
orderlythe soldier-poetBoris Mourazoffwho had written
beautiful verses on the death of the Moscow studentsafter having
shot themin the way of dutyon their barricades.

Ermolai conducted his mistress to the drawing-room and pointed
across to a door that he had left openwhich led to the
sitting-room before Natacha's chamber.

He is there,said Ermolai in a low voice.

Ermolai need have said nothingfor that mattersince Madame
Matrena was aware of a stranger's presence in the sitting-room
by the extraordinary attitude of an individual in a maroon
frock-coat bordered with false astrakhansuch as is on the coats
of all the Russian police agents and makes the secret agents
recognizable at first glance. This policeman was on his knees
in the drawing-room watching what passed in the next room through
the narrow space of light in the hinge-way of the door. In this
manneror some otherall persons who wished to approach General
Trebassof were kept under observation without their knowing it
after having been first searched at the lodgea measure adopted
since the latest attack.

Madame Matrena touched the policeman's shoulder with that heroic
hand which had saved her husband's life and which still bore traces
of the terrible explosion in the last attackwhen she had seized
the infernal machine intended for the general with her bare hand.
The policeman rose and silently left the roomreached the veranda
and lounged there on a sofapretending to be asleepbut in
reality watching the garden paths.

Matrena Petrovna took his place at the hinge-vent. This was her


rule; she always took the final glance at everything and everybody.
She roved at all hours of the day and night round about the general
like a watch-dogready to biteto throw itself before the danger
to receive the blowsto perish for its master. This had commenced
at Moscow after the terrible repressionthe massacre of
revolutionaries under the walls of Presniawhen the surviving
Nihilists left behind them a placard condemning the victorious
General Trebassof to death. Matrena Petrovna lived only for the
general. She had vowed that she would not survive him. So she had
double reason to guard him.

But she had lost all confidence even within the walls of her own
home.

Things had happened even there that defied her cautionher
instincther love. She had not spoken of these things save to the
Chief of PoliceKouprianewho had reported them to the Emperor.
And here now was the man whom the Emperor had sentas the supreme
resourcethis young stranger - Joseph Rouletabillereporter.

But he is a mere boy!she exclaimedwithout at all understanding
the matterthis youthful figurewith softrounded cheekseyes
clear andat first viewextraordinarily naivethe eyes of an
infant. Trueat the moment Rouletabille's expression hardly
suggested any superhuman profundity of thoughtforleft in view
of a tablespread with hors-d'oeuvresthe young man appeared
solely occupied in digging out with a spoon all the caviare that
remained in the jars. Matrena noted the rosy freshness of his
cheeksthe absence of down on his lip and not a hint of beardthe
thick hairwith the curl over the forehead. Ahthat forehead

-the forehead was curiouswith great over-hanging cranial lumps
which moved above the deep arcade of the eye-sockets while the mouth
was busy - wellone would have said that Rouletabille had not
eaten for a week. He was demolishing a great slice of Volgan
sturgeoncontemplating at the same time with immense interest a
salad of creamed cucumberswhen Matrena Petrovna appeared.
He wished to excuse himself at once and spoke with his mouth full.

I beg your pardon, madame, but the Czar forgot to invite me to
breakfast.

Madame Matrena smiled and gave him a hearty handshake as she urged
him to be seated.

You have seen His Majesty?

I come from him, madame. It is to Madame Trebassof that I have
the honor of speaking?

Yes. And you are Monsieur - ?

Joseph Rouletabille, madame. I do not add, 'At your service

-because I do not know about that yet. That is what I said just
now to His Majesty.
Then?asked Madame Matrenarather amused by the tone the
conversation had taken and the slightly flurried air of Rouletabille.

Why, then, I am a reporter, you see. That is what I said at once
to my editor in Paris, 'I am not going to take part in revolutionary
affairs that do not concern my country,' to which my editor replied,
'You do not have to take part. You must go to Russia to make an
inquiry into the present status of the different parties. You will


commence by interviewing the Emperor.' I said, 'Well, then, here
goes,' and took the train.

And you have interviewed the Emperor?

Oh, yes, that has not been difficult. I expected to arrive direct
at St. Petersburg, but at Krasnoie-Coelo the train stopped and the
grand-marshal of the court came to me and asked me to follow him.
It was very flattering. Twenty minutes later I was before His
Majesty. He awaited me! I understood at once that this was
obviously for something out of the ordinary.

And what did he say to you?

He is a man of genuine majesty. He reassured me at once when I
explained my scruples to him. He said there was no occasion for me
to take part in the politics of the matter, but to save his most
faithful servant, who was on the point of becoming the victim of
the strangest family drama ever conceived.

Madame Matrenawhite as a sheetrose to her feet.

Ah,she said simply.

But Rouletabillewhom nothing escapedsaw her hand tremble on the
back of the chair.

He went onnot appearing to have noticed her emotion:

His Majesty added these exact words: 'It is I who ask it of you;
I and Madame Trebassof. Go, monsieur, she awaits you'

He ceased and waited for Madame Trebassof to speak.

She made up her mind after brief reflection.

Have you seen Koupriane?

The Chief of Police? Yes. The grand-marshal accompanied me back
to the station at Krasnoie-Coelo, and the Chief of Police
accompanied me to St. Petersburg station. One could not have been
better received.

Monsieur Rouletabille,said Matrenawho visibly strove to regain
her self-controlI am not of Koupriane's opinion and I am not

-here she lowered her trembling voice - " of the opinion His
Majesty holds. It is better for me to tell you at onceso that
you may not regret intervening in an affair where there are - where
there are - risks - terrible risks to run. Nothis is not a family
drama. The family is smallvery small: the generalhis daughter
Natacha (by his former marriage)and myself. There could not be a
family drama among us three. It is simply about my husband
monsieurwho did his duty as a soldier in defending the throne of
his sovereignmy husband whom they mean to assassinate! There is
nothing elseno other situationmy dear little guest."
To hide her distress she started to carve a slice of jellied veal
and carrot.

You have not eaten, you are hungry. It is dreadful, my dear young
man. See, you must dine with us, and then - you will say adieu.
Yes, you will leave me all alone. I will undertake to save him all
alone. Certainly, I will undertake it.


A tear fell on the slice she was cutting. Rouletabillewho felt
the brave woman's emotion affecting him alsobraced himself to keep
from showing it.

I am able to help you a little all the same,he said. "Monsieur
Koupriane has told me that there is a deep mystery. It is my
vocation to get to the bottom of mysteries."

I know what Koupriane thinks,she saidshaking her head. "But
if I could bring myself to think that for a single day I would
rather be dead."

The good Matrena Petrovna lifted her beautiful eyes to Rouletabille
brimming with the tears she held back.

She added quickly:

But eat now, my dear guest; eat. My dear child, you must forget
what Koupriane has said to you, when you are back in France.

I promise you that, madame.

It is the Emperor who has caused you this long journey. For me,
I did not wish it. Has he, indeed, so much confidence in you?she
asked naivelygazing at him fixedly through her tears.

Madame, I was just about to tell you. I have been active in some
important matters that have been reported to him, and then sometimes
your Emperor is allowed to see the papers. He has heard talk, too
(for everybody talked of them, madame), about the Mystery of the
Yellow Room and the Perfume of the Lady in Black.

Here Rouletabille watched Madame Trebassof and was much mortified
at the undoubted ignorance that showed in her frank face of either
the yellow room or the black perfume.

My young friend,said shein a voice more and more hesitant
you must excuse me, but it is a long time since I have had good
eyes for reading.

Tearsat lastran down her cheeks.

Rouletabille could not restrain himself any further. He saw in one
flash all this heroic woman had suffered in her combat day by day
with the death which hovered. He took her little fat handswhose
fingers were overloaded with ringstremulously into his own:

Madame, do not weep. They wish to kill your husband. Well then,
we will be two at least to defend him, I swear to you.

Even against the Nihilists!

Aye, madame, against all the world. I have eaten all your caviare.
I am your guest. I am your friend.

As he said this he was so excitedso sincere and so droll that
Madame Trebassof could not help smiling through her tears. She made
him sit down beside her.

The Chief of Police has talked of you a great deal. He came here
abruptly after the last attack and a mysterious happening that I
will tell you about. He cried, 'Ah, we need Rouletabille to unravel
this!' The next day he came here again. He had gone to the Court.
There, everybody, it appears, was talking of you. The Emperor


wished to know you. That is why steps were taken through the
ambassador at Paris.

Yes, yes. And naturally all the world has learned of it. That
makes it so lively. The Nihiists warned me immediately that I
would not reach Russia alive. That, finally, was what decided me
on coming. I am naturally very contrary.

And how did you get through the journey?

Not badly. I discovered at once in the train a young Slav assigned
to kill me, and I reached an understanding with him. He was a
charming youth, so it was easily arranged.

Rouletabille was eating away now at strange viands that it would
have been difficult for him to name. Matrena Petrovna laid her fat
little hand on his arm:

You speak seriously?

Very seriously.

A small glass of vodka?

No alcohol.

Madame Matrena emptied her little glass at a draught.

And how did you discover him? How did you know him?

First, he wore glasses. All Nihilists wear glasses when traveling.
And then I had a good clew. A minute before the departure from
Paris I had a friend go into the corridor of the sleeping-car, a
reporter who would do anything I said without even wanting to know
why. I said, 'You call out suddenly and very loud, Hellohere is
Rouletabille."' So he called'Hellohere is Rouletabille' and
all those who were in the corridor turned and all those who were
already in the compartments came outexcepting the man with the
glasses. Then I was sure about him."

Madame Trebassof looked at Rouletabilewho turned as red as the
comb of a rooster and was rather embarrassed at his fatuity.

That deserves a rebuff, I know, madame, but from the moment the
Emperor of all the Russias had desired to see me I could not admit
that any mere man with glasses had not the curiosity to see what
I looked like. It was not natural. As soon as the train was off
I sat down by this man and told him who I thought he was. I was
right. He removed his glasses and, looking me straight in the eyes,
said he was glad to have a little talk with me before anything
unfortunate happened. A half-hour later the entente-cordiale was
signed. I gave him to understand that I was coming here simply on
business as a reporter and that there was always time to check me
if I should be indiscreet. At the German frontier he left me to
go on, and returned tranquilly to his nitro-glycerine.

You are a marked man also, my poor boy.

Oh, they have not got us yet.

Matrena Petrovna coughed. That us overwhelmed her. With what
calmness this boy that she had not known an hour proposed to share
the dangers of a situation that excited general pity but from which
the bravest kept aloof either from prudence or dismay.


Ah, my friend, a little of this fine smoked Hamburg beef?

But the young man was already pouring out fresh yellow beer.

There,said he. "NowmadameI am listening. Tell me first
about the earliest attack."

Now,said Matrenawe must go to dinner.

Rouletabille looked at her wide-eyed.

But, madame, what have I just been doing?

Madame Matrena smiled. All these strangers were alike. Because
they had eaten some hors-d'ceuvressome zakouskisthey imagined
their host would be satisfied. They did not know how to eat.

We will go to the dining-room. The general is expecting you.
They are at table.

I understand I am supposed to know him.

Yes, you have met in Paris. It is entirely natural that in passing
through St. Petersburg you should make him a visit. You know him
ery well indeed, so well that he opens his home to you. Ah, yes,
my step-daughter also - she flushed a little - " Natacha believes
that her father knows you."

She opened the door of the drawing-roomwhich they had to cross in
order to reach the dining-room.

>From his present position Rouletabille could see all the corners of
the drawing-roomthe verandathe garden and the entrance lodge at
the gate. In the veranda the man in the maroon frock-coat trimmed
with false astrakhan seemed still to be asleep on the sofa; in one
of the corners of the drawing-room another individualsilent and
motionless as a statuedressed exactly the samein a maroon
frock-coat with false astrakhanstood with his hands behind his
back seemingly struck with general paralysis at the sight of a
flaring sunset which illumined as with a torch the golden spires of
Saints Peter and Paul. And in the garden and before the lodge
three others dressed in maroon roved like souls in pain over the
lawn or back and forth at the entrance. Rouletabille motioned to
Madame Matrenastepped back into the sitting-room and closed the
door.

Police?he asked.

Matrena Petrovna nodded her head and put her finger to her mouth
in a naive wayas one would caution a child to silence.
Rouletabille smiled.

How many are there?

Ten, relieved every six hours.

That makes forty unknown men around your house each day.

Not unknown,she replied. "Police."

Yet, in spite of them, you have had the affair of the bouquet in
the general's chamber.


No, there were only three then. It is since the affair of the
bouquet that there have been ten.

It hardly matters. It is since these ten that you have had ...

What?she demanded anxiously.

You know well - the flooring.

Sh-h-h.

She glanced at the doorwatching the policeman statuesque before
the setting sun.

No one knows that - not even my husband.

So M. Koupriane told me. Then it is you who have arranged for
these ten police-agents?

Certainly.

Well, we will commence now by sending all these police away.

Matrena Petrovna grasped his handastounded.

Surely you don't think of doing such a thing as that!

Yes. We must know where the blow is coming from. You have four
different groups of people around here - the police, the domestics,
your friends, your family. Get rid of the police first. They must
not be permitted to cross your threshold. They have not been able
to protect you. You have nothing to regret. And if, after they
are gone, something new turns up, we can leave M. Koupriane to
conduct the inquiries without his being preoccupied here at the
house.

But you do not know the admirable police of Koupriane. These brave
men have given proof of their devotion.

Madame, if I were face to face with a Nihilist the first thing I
would ask myself about him would be, 'Is he one of the police?'
The first thing I ask in the presence of an agent of your police is,
'Is he not a Nihilist?'

But they will not wish to go.

Do any of them speak French?

Yes, their sergeant, who is out there in the salon.

Pray call him.

Madame Trebassof walked into the salon and signaled. The man
appeared. Rouletabille handed him a paperwhich the other read.

You will gather your men together and quit the villa,ordered
Rouletabille. "You will return to the police Headguarters. Say to

M. Koupriane that I have commanded this and that I require all police
service around the villa to be suspended until further orders."
The man bowedappeared not to understandlooked at Madame
Trebassof and said to the young man:

At your service.


He went out.

Wait here a moment,urged Madame Trebassofwho did not know how
to take this abrupt action and whose anxiety was really painful
to see.

She disappeared after the man of the false astrakhan. A few moments
afterwards she returned. She appeared even more agitated.

I beg your pardon,she murmuredbut I cannot let them go like
this. They are much chagrined. They have insisted on knowing where
they have failed in their service. I have appeased them with money.

Yes, and tell me the whole truth, madame. You have directed them
not to go far away, but to remain near the villa so as to watch it
as closely as possible.

She reddened.

It is true. But they have gone, nevertheless. They had to obey
you. What can that paper be you have shown them?

Rouletabille drew out again the billet covered with seals and signs
and cabalistics that he did not understand. Madame Trebassof
translated it aloud: "Order to all officials in surveillance of the
Villa Trebassof to obey the bearer absolutely. Signed: Koupriane."

Is it possible!murmured Matrena Petrovna. "But Koupriane would
never have given you this paper if he had imagined that you would
use it to dismiss his agents."

Evidently. I have not asked him his advice, madame, you may be
sure. But I will see him to-morrow and he will understand.

Meanwhile, who is going to watch over him?cried she.

Rouletabille took her hands again. He saw her sufferinga prey
to anguish almost prostrating. He pitied her. He wished to give
her immediate confidence.

We will,he said.

She saw his youngclear eyesso deepso intelligentthe
well-formed young headthe willing faceall his young ardency for
herand it reassured her. Rouletabille waited for what she might
say. She said nothing. She took him in her arms and embraced him.

NATACHA

In the dining-room it was Thaddeus Tchnichnikoff's turn to tell
hunting stories. He was the greatest timber-merchant in Lithuania.
He owned immense forests and he loved Feodor Feodorovitch* as a

*In this story according to Russian habit General Trebassof is
called alternately by that name or the family name Feodor
Feodorovitchand Madame Trebassof by that name or her family
nameMatrena Petrovna.- Translator's Note.


brotherfor they had played together all through their childhood
and once he had saved him from a bear that was just about to crush
his skull as one might knock off a hat. General Trebassof's father
was governor of Courlande at that timeby the grace of God and the
Little Father. Thaddeuswho was just thirteen years oldkilled
the bear with a single stroke of his boar-spearand just in time.
Close ties were knit between the two families by this occurrence
and though Thaddeus was neither noble-born nor a soldierFeodor
considered him his brother and felt toward him as such. Now
Thaddeus had become the greatest timber-merchant of the western
provinceswith his own forests and also with his massive body
his fatoily facehis bull-neck and his ample paunch. He quitted
everything at once - all his affairshis family - as soon as he
learned of the first attackto come and remain by the side of his
dear comrade Feodor. He had done this after each attackwithout
forgetting one. He was a faithful friend. But he fretted because
they might not go bear-hunting as in their youth. 'Wherehe would
askare there any bears remaining in Courlandeor trees for that
matterwhat you could call treesgrowing since the days of the
grand-dukes of Lithuaniagiant trees that threw their shade right
up to the very edge of the towns? Where were such things nowadays?
Thaddeus was very amusingfor it was hecertainlywho had cut
them away tranquilly enough and watched them vanish in locomotive
smoke. It was what was called Progress. Ahhunting lost its
national character assuredly with tiny new-growth trees which had
not had time to grow. Andbesidesone nowadays had not time for
hunting. All the big game was so far away. Lucky enough if one
seized the time to bring down a brace of woodcock early in the
morning. At this point in Thaddeus's conversation there was a
babble of talk among the convivial gentlemenfor they had all the
time in the world at their disposal and could not see why he should
be so concerned about snatching a little while at morning or
eveningor at midday for that matter. Champagne was flowing like
a river when Rouletabille was brought in by Matrena Petrovna. The
generalwhose eyes had been on the door for some timecried at
onceas though responding to a cue:

Ah, my dear Rouletabille! I have been looking for you. Our
friends wrote me you were coming to St. Petersburg.

Rouletabille hurried over to him and they shook hands like friends
who meet after a long separation. The reporter was presented to
the company as a close young friend from Paris whom they had enjoyed
so much during their latest visit to the City of Light. Everybody
inquired for the latest word of Paris as of a dear acquaintance.

How is everybody at Maxim's?urged the excellent Athanase
Georgevitch.

Thaddeustoohad been once in Paris and he returned with an
enthusiastic liking for the French demoiselles.

Vos gogottes, monsieur,he saidappearing very amiable and
leaning on each wordwith a guttural emphasis such as is common
in the western provincesah, vos gogottes!

Matrena Perovna tried to silence himbut Thaddeus insisted on his
right to appreciate the fair sex away from home. He had a turgid
sentimental wifealways weeping and cramming her religious notions
down his throat.

Of course someone asked Rouletabille what he thought of Russiabut


he had no more than opened his mouth to reply than Athanase
Georgevitch closed it by interrupting:

Permettez! Permettez! You others, of the young generation, what
do you know of it? You need to have lived a long time and in all
its districts to appreciate Russia at its true value. Russia,
my young sir, is as yet a closed book to you.

Naturally,Rouletabille answeredsmiling.

Well, well, here's your health! What I would point out to you
first of all is that it is a good buyer of champagne, eh?- and
he gave a huge grin. "But the hardest drinker I ever knew was born
on the banks of the Seine. Did you know himFeodor Feodorovitch?
Poor Charles Dufourwho died two years ago at fete of the officers
of the Guard. He wagered at the end of the banquet that he could
drink a glassful of champagne to the health of each man there.
There were sixty when you came to count them. He commenced the
round of the table and the affair went splendidly up to the
fifty-eighth man. But at the fifty-ninth - think of the
misfortune! - the champagne ran out! That poorthat charming
that excellent Charles took up a glass of vin dore which was in the
glass of this fifty-ninthwished him long lifedrained the glass
at one draughthad just time to murmur'Tokay1807' and fell
back dead! Ahhe knew the brandsmy word! and he proved it to
his last breath! Peace to his ashes! They asked what he died of.
I knew he died because of the inappropriate blend of flavors. There
should be discipline in all things and not promiscuous mixing. One
more glass of champagne and he would have been drinking with us
this evening. Your healthMatrena Petrovna. ChampagneFeodor
Feodorovitch! Vive la Francemonsieur! Natachamy childyou
must sing something. Boris will accompany you on the guzla. Your
father will enjoy it."

All eyes turned toward Natacha as she rose.

Rouletabille was struck by her serene beauty. That was the first
enthralling impressionan impression so strong it astonished him
the perfect serenitythe supreme calmthe tranquil harmony of her
noble features. Natacha was twenty. Heavy brown hair circled about
er forehead and was looped about her earswhich were half-concealed.
Her profile was clear-cut; her mouth was strong and revealed between
redfirm lips the even pearliness of her teeth. She was of medium
height. In walking she had the freelight step of the highborn
maidens whoin primal timespressed the flowers as they passed
without crushing them. But all her true grace seemed to be
concentrated in her eyeswhich were deep and of a dark blue.
The impression she made upon a beholder was very complex. And it
would have been difficult to say whether the calm which pervaded
every manifestation of her beauty was the result of conscious
control or the most perfect ease.

She took down the guzla and handed it to Boriswho struck some
plaintive preliminary chords.

What shall I sing?she inquiredraising her father's hand from
the back of the sofa where he rested and kissing it with filial
tenderness.

Improvise,said the general. "Improvise in Frenchfor the sake
of our guest."

Oh, yes,cried Boris; "improvise as you did the other evening."


He immediately struck a minor chord.

Natacha looked fondly at her father as she sang:

When the moment comes that parts us at the close of day,

when the Angel of Sleep covers you with azure wings;

Ohmay your eyes rest from so many tearsand your oppressed

heart have calm;

In each moment that we have together, Father dear, let our

souls feel harmony sweet and mystical;

And when your thoughts may have flown to other worldsohmay

my imageat leastnestle within your sleeping eyes."

Natacha's voice was sweetand the charm of it subtly pervasive.
The words as she uttered them seemed to have all the quality of a
prayer and there were tears in all eyesexcepting those of Michael
Korsakoffthe second orderlywhom Rouletabille appraised as a man
with a rough heart not much open to sentiment.

Feodor Feodorovitch,said this officerwhen the young girl's
voice had faded away into the blending with the last note of the
guzlaFeodor Feodorovitch is a man and a glorious soldier who is
able to sleep in peace, because he has labored for his country and
for his Czar.

Yes, yes. Labored well! A glorious soldier!repeated Athanase
Georgevitch and Ivan Petrovitch. "Well may he sleep peacefully."

Natacha sang like an angel,said Boristhe first orderlyin a
tremulous voice.

Like an angel, Boris Nikolaievitch. But why did she speak of his
heart oppressed? I don't see that General Trebassof has a heart
oppressed, for my part.Michael Korsakoff spoke roughly as he
drained his glass.

No, that's so, isn't it?agreed the others.

A young girl may wish her father a pleasant sleep, surely!said
Matrena Petrovnawith a certain good sense. "Natacha has affected
us allhas she notFeodor?"

Yes, she made me weep,declared the general. "But let us have
champagne to cheer us up. Our young friend here will think we
are chicken-hearted."

Never think that,said Rouletabille. "Mademoiselle has touched
me deeply as well. She is an artistreally a great artist. And
a poet."

He is from Paris; he knows,said the others.

And all drank.

Then they talked about musicwith great display of knowledge
concerning things operatic. First onethen another went to the
piano and ran through some motif that the rest hummed a little
firstthen shouted in a rousing chorus. Then they drank more
amid a perfect fracas of talk and laughter. Ivan Petrovitch and
Athanase Georgevitch walked across and kissed the general.
Rouletabille saw all around him great children who amused
themselves with unbelievable naivete and who drank in a fashion
more unbelievable still. Matrena Petrovna smoked cigarettes of
yellow tobacco incessantlyrising almost continually to make a


hurried round of the roomsand after having prompted the servants
to greater watchfulnesssat and looked long at Rouletabillewho
did not stirbut caught every wordevery gesture of each one
there. Finallysighingshe sat down by Feodor and asked how his
leg felt. Michael and Natachain a cornerwere deep in
conversationand Boris watched them with obvious impatiencestill
strumming the guzla. But the thing that struck Rouletabille's
youthful imagination beyond all else was the mild face of the
general. He had not imagined the terrible Trebassof with so
paternal and sympathetic an expression. The Paris papers had
printed redoubtable pictures of himmore or less authenticbut
the arts of photography and engraving had cut vigorousrough
features of an official - who knew no pity. Such pictures were in
perfect accord with the idea one naturally had of the dominating
figure of the government at Moscowthe man whoduring eight
days - the Red Week - had made so many corpses of students and
workmen that the halls of the University and the factories had
opened their doors since in vain. The dead would have had to arise
for those places to be peopled! Days of terrible battle where in
one quarter or another of the city there was naught but massacre or
burningsuntil Matrena Petrovna and her step-daughterNatacha
(all the papers told of it)had fallen on their knees before the
general and begged terms for the last of the revolutionariesat
bay in the Presnia quarterand had been refused by him. "War is
war had been his answer, with irrefutable logic. How can you
ask mercy for these men who never give it?" Be it said for the
young men of the barricades that they never surrenderedand equally
be it said for Trebassof that he necessarily shot them. "If I had
only myself to consider the general had said to a Paris
journalist, I could have been gentle as a lamb with these
unfortunatesand so I should not now myself be condemned to death.
After allI fail to see what they reproach me with. I have served
my master as a brave and loyal subjectno moreandafter the
fightingI have let others ferret out the children that had hidden
under their mothers' skirts. Everybody talks of the repression of
Moscowhut let us speakmy friendof the Commune. There was a
piece of work I would not have doneto massacre within a court an
unresisting crowd of menwomen and children. I am a rough and
faithful soldier of His Majestybut I am not a monsterand I have
the feelings of a husband and fathermy dear monsieur. Tell your
readers thatif you care toand do not surmise further about
whether I appear to regret being condemned to death."

Certainly what stupefied Rouletabille now was this staunch figure
of the condemned man who appeared so tranquilly to enjoy his life.
When the general was not furthering the gayety of his friends he
was talking with his wife and daughterwho adored him and
continually fondled himand he seemed perfectly happy. With his
enormous grizzly mustachehis ruddy colorhis keenpiercing
eyeshe looked the typical spoiled father.

The reporter studied all these widely-different types and made his
observations while pretending to a ravenous appetitewhich served
moreoverto fix him in the good graces of his hosts of the datcha
des Iles. Butin realityhe passed the food to an enormous
bull-dog under the tablein whose good graces he was also thus
firmly planting himself. As Trebassof had prayed his companions to
let his young friend satisfy his ravening hunger in peacethey did
not concern themelves to entertain him. Thentoothe music
served to distract attention from himand at a moment somewhat
laterwhen Matrena Petrovna turned to speak to the young manshe
was frightened at not seeing him. Where had he gone? She went out
into the veranda and looked. She did not dare to call. She walked
into the grand-salon and saw the reporter just as he came out of


the sitting-room.

Where were you?she inquired.

The sitting-room is certainly charming, and decorated exquisitely,
complimented Rouletabille. "It seems almost a boudoir."

It does serve as a boudoir for my step-daughter, whose bedroom
opens directly from it; you see the door there. It is simply for
the present that the luncheon table is set there, because for some
time the police have pre-empted the veranda.

Is your dog a watch-dog, madame?asked Rouletabillecaressing
the beastwhich had followed him.

Khor is faithful and had guarded us well hitherto.

He sleeps now, then?

Yes. Koupriane has him shut in the lodge to keep him from barking
nights. Koupriane fears that if he is out he will devour one of
the police who watch in the garden at night. I wanted him to sleep
in the house, or by his master's door, or even at the foot of the
bed, but Koupriane said, 'No, no; no dog. Don't rely on the dog.
Nothing is more dangerous than to rely on the dog. 'Since then he
has kept Khor locked up at night. But I do not understand
Koupriane's idea.

Monsieur Koupriane is right,said the reporter. "Dogs are useful
only against strangers."

Oh,gasped the poor womandropping her eyes. "Koupriane
certainly knows his business; he thinks of everything."

Come,she added rapidiyas though to hide her disquietdo not
go out like that without letting me know. They want you in the
dining-room.

I must have you tell me right now about this attempt.

In the dining-room, in the dining-room. In spite of myself,she
said in a low voiceit is stronger than I am. I am not able to
leave the general by himself while he is on the ground-floor.

She drew Rouletabille into the dining-roomwhere the gentlemen were
now telling odd stories of street robberies amid loud laughter.
Natacha was still talking with Michael Korsakoff; Boriswhose eyes
never quitted themwas as pale as the wax on his guzlawhich he
rattled violently from time to time. Matrena made Rouletabille sit
in a corner of the sofanear herandcounting on her fingers
like a careful housewife who does not wish to overlook anything in
her domestic calculationsshe said:

There have been three attempts; the first two in Moscow. The first
happened very simply. The general knew he had been condemned to
death. They had delivered to him at the palace in the afternoon the
revoluntionary poster which proclaimed his intended fate to the
whole city and country. So Feodor, who was just about to ride into
the city, dismissed his escort. He ordered horses put to a sleigh.
I trembled and asked what he was going to do. He said he was going
to drive quietly through all parts of the city, in order to show the
Muscovites that a governor appointed according to law by the Little
Father and who had in his conscience only the sense that he had
done his full duty was not to be intimidated. It was nearly four


o'clock, toward the end of a winter day that had been clear and
bright, but very cold. I wrapped myself in my furs and took my
seat beside him, and he said, 'This is fine, Matrena; this will
have a great effect on these imbeciles.' So we started. At
first we drove along the Naberjnaia. The sleigh glided like
the wind. The general hit the driver a heavy blow in the back,
crying, 'Slower, fool; they will think we are afraid,' and so the
horses were almost walking when, passing behind the Church of
Protection and intercession, we reached the Place Rouge. Until
then the few passers-by had looked at us, and as they recognized
him, hurried along to keep him in view. At the Place Rouge there
was only a little knot of women kneeling before the Virgin. As
soon as these women saw us and recognized the equipage of the
Governor, they dispersed like a flock of crows, with frightened
cries. Feodor laughed so hard that as we passed under the vault
of the Virgin his laugh seemed to shake the stones. I felt
reassured, monsieur. Our promenade continued without any remarkable
incident. The city was almost deserted. Everything lay prostrated
under the awful blow of that battle in the street. Feodor said,
'Ah, they give me a wide berth; they do not know how much I love
them,and all through that promenade he said many more charming
and delicate things to me.

As we were talking pleasantly under our furs we came to la Place
Koudrinsky, la rue Koudrinsky, to be exact. It was just four
o'clock, and a light mist had commenced to mix with the sifting
snow, and the houses to right and left were visible only as masses
of shadow. We glided over the snow like a boat along the river in
foggy calm. Then, suddenly, we heard piercing cries and saw shadows
of soldiers rushing around, with movements that looked larger than
human through the mist; their short whips looked enormous as they
knocked some other shadows that we saw down like logs. The general
stopped the sleigh and got out to see what was going on. I got out
with him. They were soldiers of the famous Semenowsky regiment,
who had two prisoners, a young man and a child. The child was being
beaten on the nape of the neck. It writhed on the ground and cried
in torment. It couldn't have been more than nine years old. The
other, the young man, held himself up and marched along without a
single cry as the thongs fell brutally upon him. I was appalled.
I did not give my husband time to open his mouth before I called
to the subaltern who commanded the detachment, 'You should be
ashamed to strike a child and a Christian like that, which cannot
defend itself.' The general told him the same thing. Then the
subaltern told us that the little child had just killed a lieutenant
in the street by firing a revolver, which he showed us, and it was
the biggest one I ever have seen, and must have been as heavy for
that infant to lift as a small cannon. It was unbelievable.

'And the other' demanded the general; 'what has he done?'

'He is a dangerous student,' replied the subaltern, 'who has
delivered himself up as a prisoner because he promised the landlord
of the house where he lives that he would do it to keep the house
from being battered down with cannon.'

'But that is right of him. Why do you beat him?'

'Because he has told us he is a dangerous student.'

'That is no reason' Feodor told him. 'He will be shot if he
deserves itand the child alsobut I forbid you to beat him. You
have not been furnished with these whips in order to beat isolated
prisonersbut to charge the crowd when it does not obey the
governor's orders. In such a case you are ordered "Charge and


you know what to do. You understand?' Feodor said roughly. 'I
am General Trebassof, your governor.'

Feodor was thoroughly human in saying this. Ahwellhe was badly
ecompensed for itvery badlyI tell you. The student was truly
dangerousbecause he had no sooner heard my husband say'I am
General Trebassofyour governor' than he cried'Ahis it you
Trebassoff' and drew a revolver from no one knows where and fired
straight at the generalalmost against his breast. But the general
was not hithappilynor I eitherwho was by him and had thrown
myself onto the student to disarm him and then was tossed about at
the feet of the soldiers in the battle they waged around the student
while the revolver was going off. Three soldiers were killed. You
can understand that the others were furious. They raised me with
many excuses andall togetherset to kicking the student in the
loins and striking at him as he lay on the ground. The subaltern
struck his face a blow that might have blinded him. Feodor hit the
officer in the head with his fist and called'Didn't you hear what
I said?' The officer fell under the blow and Feodor himself carried
him to the sleigh and laid him with the dead men. Then he took
charge of the soldiers and led them to the barracks. I followed
as a sort of after-guard. We returned to the palace an hour later.
It was quite dark by thenand almost at the entrance to the palace
we were shot at by a group of revolutionaries who passed swiftly in
two sleighs and disappeared in the darkness so fast that they could
not be overtaken. I had a ball in my toque. The general had not
been touched this time eitherbut our furs were ruined by the blood
of the dead soldiers which they had forgotten to clean out of the
sleigh. That was the first attemptwhich meant little enough
after allbecause it was fighting in the open. It was some days
later that they commenced to try assassination."

At this moment Ermolai brought in four bottles of champagne and
Thaddeus struck lightly on the piano.

Quickly, madame, the second attempt,said Rouletabillewho was
aking hasty notes on his cuffnever ceasingmeanwhileto watch
the convivial group and listening with both ears wide open to
Matrena.

The second happened still in Moscow. We had had a jolly dinner
because we thought that at last the good old days were back and
good citizens could live in peace; and Boris had tried out the guzia
singing songs of the Orel country to please me; he is so fine and
sympathetic. Natacha had gone somewhere or other. The sleigh was
waiting at the door and we went out and got in. Almost instantly
there was a fearful noise, and we were thrown out into the snow,
both the general and me. There remained no trace of sleigh or
coachman; the two horses were disemboweled, two magnificent piebald
horses, my dear young monsieur, that the general was so attached to.
As to Feodor, he had that serious wound in his right leg; the calf
was shattered. I simply had my shoulder a little wrenched,
practically nothing. The bomb had been placed under the seat of the
unhappy coachman, whose hat alone we found, in a pool of blood.
>From that attack the general lay two months in bed. In the second
month they arrested two servants who were caught one night on the
landing leading to the upper floor, where they had no business, and
after that I sent at once for our old domestics in Orel to come and
serve us. It was discovered that these detected servants were in
touch with the revolutionaries, so they were hanged. The Emperor
appointed a provisional governor, and now that the general was
better we decided on a convalescence for him in the midi of France.
We took train for St. Petersburg, but the journey started high fever
in my husband and reopened the wound in his calf. The doctors


ordered absolute rest and so we settled here in the datcha des Iles.
Since then, not a day has passed without the general receiving an
anonymous letter telling him that nothing can save him from the
revenge of the revolutionaries. He is brave and only smiles over
them, but for me, I know well that so long as we are in Russia we
have not a moment's security. So I watch him every minute and let
no one approach him except his intimate friends and us of the family.
I have brought an old gniagnia who watched me grow up, Ermolai, and
the Orel servants. In the meantime, two months later, the third
attempt suddenly occurred. It is certainly of them all the most
frightening, because it is so mysterious, a mystery that has not
yet, alas, been solved.

But Athanase Georgevitch had told a "good story" which raised so
much hubbub that nothing else could be heard. Feodor Feodorovitch
was so amused that he had tears in his eyes. Rouletabille said to
himself as Matrena talkedI never have seen men so gay, and yet
they know perfectly they are apt to be blown up all together any
moment.

General Trebassofwho had steadily watched Rouletabillewhofor
that matterhad been kept in eye by everyone theresaid:

Eh, eh, monsieur le journaliste, you find us very gay?

I find you very brave,said Rouletabille quietly.

How is that?said Feodor Feodorovitchsmiling.

You must pardon me for thinking of the things that you seem to
have forgotten entirely.

He indicated the general's wounded leg.

The chances of war! the chances of war!said the general. "A leg
herean arm there. Butas you seeI am still here. They will
end by growing tired and leaving me in peace. Your healthmy
friend!"

Your health, general!

You understand,continued Feodor Feodorovitchthere is no
occasion to excite ourselves. It is our business to defend the
empire at the peril of our lives. We find that quite natural, and
there is no occasion to think of it. I have had terrors enough in
other directions, not to speak of the terrors of love, that are
more ferocious than you can yet imagine. Look at what they did to
my poor friend the Chief of the Surete, Boichlikoff. He was
commendable certainly. There was a brave man. Of an evening, when
his work was over, he always left the bureau of the prefecture and
went to join his wife and children in their apartment in the ruelle
des Loups. Not a soldier! No guard! The others had every chance.
One evening a score of revolutionaries, after having driven away
the terrorized servants, mounted to his apartments. He was dining
with his family. They knocked and he opened the door. He saw who
they were, and tried to speak. They gave him no time. Before his
wife and children, mad with terror and on their knees before the
revolutionaries, they read him his death-sentence. A fine end that
to a dinner!

As he listened Rouletabille paled and he kept his eyes on the door
as if he expected to see it open of itselfgiving access to
ferocious Nihiists of whom onewith a paper in his handwould
read the sentence of death to Feodor Feodorovitch. Rouletabille's


stomach was not yet seasoned to such stories. He almost regretted
momentarilyhaving taken the terrible responsibility of dismissing
the police. After what Koupriane had confided to him of things that
had happened in this househe had not hesitated to risk everything
on that audacious decisionbut all the sameall the same - these
stories of Nihilists who appear at the end of a mealdeath-sentence
in handthey haunted himthey upset him. Certainly it had been
a piece of foolhardiness to dismiss the police!

Well,he askedconquering his misgivings and resumingas always
his confidence in himselfthen, what did they do then, after
reading the sentence?

The Chief of the Surete knew he had no time to spare. He did not
ask for it. The revolutionaries ordered him to bid his family
farewell. He raised his wife, his children, clasped them, bade
them be of good courage, then said he was ready. They took him
into the street. They stood him against a wall. His wife and
children watched from a window. A volley sounded. They descended
to secure the body, pierced with twenty-five bullets.

That was exactly the number of wounds that were made on the body
of little Jacques Zloriksky,came in the even tones of Natacha.

Oh, you, you always find an excuse,grumbled the general. "Poor
Boichlikoff did his dutyas I did mine.

Yes, papa, you acted like a soldier. That is what the
revolutionaries ought not to forget. But have no fears for us,
papa; because if they kill you we will all die with you.

And gayly too,declared Athanase Georgevitch.

They should come this evening. We are in form!"

Upon which Athanase filled the glasses again.

None the less, permit me to say,ventured the timber-merchant
Thaddeus Tchnitchnikoftimidlypermit me to say that this
Boichlikoff was very imprudent.

Yes, indeed, very gravely imprudent,agreed Rouletabille. "When
a man has had twenty-five good bullets shot into the body of a
childhe ought certainly to keep his home well guarded if he
wishes to dine in peace."

He stammered a little toward the end of thisbecause it occurred
to him that it was a little inconsistent to express such opinions
seeing what he had done with the guard over the general.

Ah,cried Athanase Georgevitchin a stage-struck voiceAh, it
was not imprudence! It was contempt of death! Yes, it was contempt
of death that killed him! Even as the contempt of death keeps us,
at this moment, in perfect health. To you, ladies and gentlemen!
Do you know anything lovelier, grander, in the world than contempt
of death? Gaze on Feodor Feodorovitch and answer me. Superb! My
word, superb! To you all! The revolutionaries who are not of the
police are of the same mind regarding our heroes. They may curse
the tchinownicks who execute the terrible orders given them by
those higher up, but those who are not of the police (there are
some, I believe) - these surely recognize that men like the Chief
of the Surete our dead friend, are brave.

Certainly,endorsed the general. "Counting all thingsthey need


more heroism for a promenade in a salon than a soldier on a
battle-field."

I have met some of these men,continued Athanase in exalted vein.
I have found in all their homes the same - imprudence, as our young
French friend calls it. A few days after the assassination of the
Chief of Police in Moscow I was received by his successor in the
same place where the assassination had occurred. He did not take
the slightest precaution with me, whom he did not know at all, nor
with men of the middle class who came to present their petitions,
in spite of the fact that it was under precisely identical
conditions that his predecessor had been slain. Before I left I
looked over to where on the floor there had so recently occurred
such agony. They had placed a rug there and on the rug a table,
and on that table there was a book. Guess what book. 'Women's
Stockings,' by Willy! And - and then -Your health, Matrena
Petrovna. What's the odds!

You yourselves, my friends,declared the generalprove your great
courage by coming to share the hours that remain of my life with me."

Not at all, not at all! It is war.

Yes, it is war.

Oh, there's no occasion to pat us on the shoulder, Athanase,
insisted Thaddeus modestly. "What risk do we run? We are well
guarded."

We are protected by the finger of God,declared Athanasebecause
the police - well, I haven't any confidence in the police.

Michael Korsakoffwho had heen for a turn in the gardenentered
during the remark.

Be happy, then, Athanase Georgevitch,said hefor there are now
no police around the villa.

Where are they?inquired the timher-merchant uneasily.

An order came from Koupriane to remove them,explained Matrena
Petrovnawho exerted herself to appear calm.

And are they not replaced?asked Michael.

No. It is incomprehensible. There must have been some confusion
in the orders given.And Matrena reddenedfor she loathed a lie
and it was in tribulation of spirit that she used this fable under
Rouletabille's directions.

Oh, well, all the better,said the general. "It will give me
pleasure to see my home ridded for a while of such people."

Athanase was naturally of the same mind as the generaland when
Thaddeus and Ivan Petrovitch and the orderlies offered to pass the
night at the villa and take the place of the absent policeFeodor
Feodorovitch caught a gesture from Rouletabille which disapproved
the idea of this new guard.

No, no,cried the general emphatically. "You leave at the usual
time. I want now to get back into the ordinary run of thingsmy
word! To live as everyone else does. We shall be all right.
Koupriane and I have arranged the matter. Koupriane is less sure
of his menafter allthan I am of my servants. You understand


me. I do not need to explain further. You will go home to bed

-and we will all sleep. Those are the orders. Besidesyou must
remember that the guard-post is only a step from hereat the corner
of the roadand we have only to give a signal to bring them all
here. But - more secret agents or special police - nono!
Good-night. All of us to bed now!"
They did not insist further. When Feodor had saidThose are the
orders,there was room for nothing morenot even in the way of
polite insistence.


But before going to their beds all went into the verandawhere
liqueurs were served by the brave Ermolaias always. Matrena
pushed the wheel-chair of the general thereand he kept repeating
No, no. No more such people. No more police. They only bring
trouble.


Feodor! Feodor!sighed Matrenawhose anxiety deepened in spite
of all she could dothey watched over your dear life.


Life is dear to me only because of you, Matrena Petrovna.


And not at all because of me, papa?said Natacha.


Oh, Natacha!


He took both her hands in his. It was an affecting glimpse of
family intimacy.


>From time to timewhile Ermolai poured the liqueursFeodor struck
his band on the coverings over his leg.


It gets better,said he. "It gets better."


Then melancholy showed in his rugged faceand he watched night
deepen over the islesthe golden night of St. Petersburg. It was
not quite yet the time of year for what they call the golden nights
therethe "white nights nights which never deepen to darkness,
but they were already beautiful in their soft clarity, caressed,
here by the Gulf of Finland, almost at the same time by the last
and the first rays of the sun, by twilight and dawn.


>From the height of the veranda one of the most beautiful bits of
the isles lay in view, and the hour was so lovely that its charm
thrilled these people, of whom several, as Thaddeus, were still
close to nature. It was he, first, who called to Natacha:


Natacha! Natacha! Sing us your 'Soir des Iles.'"


Natacha's voice floated out upon the peace of the islands under the
dim arched skylight and clear as a night roseand the guzia of
Boris accompanied it. Natacha sang:


This is the night of the Isles - at the north of the world.
The sky presses in its stainless arms the bosom of earth,
Night kisses the rose that dawn gave to the twilight.
And the night air is sweet and fresh from across the shivering gulf,
Like the breath of young girls from the world still farther north.
Beneath the two lighted horizons, sinking and rising at once,
The sun rolls rebounding from the gods at the north of the world.
In this moment, beloved, when in the clear shadows of this


rose-stained evening I am here alone with you,
Respond, respond with a heart less timid to the holy, accustomed

cry of 'Good-evening.'


Ahhow Boris Nikolaievitch and Michael Korsakoff watched her as
she sang! Trulyno one ever can guess the anger or the love that
broods in a Slavic heart under a soldier's tunicwhether the
soldier wisely plays at the guzlaas the correct Borisor merely
loungestwirling his mustache with his manicured and perfumed
fingerslike Michaelthe indifferent.

Natacha ceased singingbut all seemed to be listening to her still

-the convivial group on the terrace appeared to be held in charmed
attentionand the porcelain statuettes of men on the lawn
according to the mode of the Ilesseemed to lift on their short
legs the better to hear pass the sighing harmony of Natacha in the
rose nights at the north of the world.
Meanwhile Matrena wandered through the house from cellar to attic
watching over her husband like a dog on guardready to biteto
throw itself in the way of dangerto receive the blowsto die
for its master - and hunting for Rouletabillewho had disappeared
again.

THE WATCH

She went out to caution the servants to a strict watcharmed to
the teethbefore the gate all night longand she crossed the
deserted garden. Under the veranda the schwitzar was spreading a
mattress for Ermolai. She asked him if he had seen the young
Frenchman anywhereand after the answercould only say to herself
Where is he, then?Where had Rouletabille gone? The general
whom she had carried up to his room on her backwithout any help
and had helped into bed without assistancewas disturbed by this
singular disappearance. Had someone already carried off "their"
Rouletabille? Their friends were gone and the orderlies had taken
leave without being able to say where this boy of a journalist had
gone. But it would be foolish to worry about the disappearance of
a Journalistthey had said. That kind of man - these journalists

-camewentarrived when one least expected themand quitted
their company - even the highest society - without formality. It
was what they called in France "leaving English fashion." However
it appeared it was not meant to be impolite. Perhaps he had gone
to telegraph. A journalist had to keep in touch with the telegraph
at all hours. Poor Matrena Petrovna roamed the solitary garden in
tumult of heart. There was the light in the general's window on
the first floor. There were lights in the basement from the
kitchens. There was a light on the ground-floor near the
sitting-roomfrom Natacha's chamber window. Ahthe night was
hard to bear. And this night the shadows weighed heavier than ever
on the valiant breast of Matrena. As she breathed she felt as
though she lifted all the weight of the threatening night. She
examined everything - everything. All was shut tightwas perfectly
secureand there was no one within excepting people she was
absolutely sure of - but whomall the sameshe did not allow to
go anywhere in the house excepting where their work called them.
Each in his place. That made things surer. She wished each one
could remain fixed like the porcelain statues of men out on the
lawn. Even as she thought ithere at her feetright at her very
feeta shadow of one of the porcelain men movedstretched itself
outrose to its kneesgrasped her skirt and spoke in the voice
of Rouletabille. Ahgood! it was Rouletabille. "Himselfdear

madame; himself."

Why is Ermolai in the veranda? Send him back to the kitchens and
tell the schwitzar to go to bed. The servants are enough for an
ordinary guard outside. Then you go in at once, shut the door,
and don't concern yourself about me, dear madame. Good-night.

Rouletabille had resumedin the shadowsamong the other porcelain
figureshis pose of a porcelain man.

Matrena Petrovna did as she was toldreturned to the housespoke
to the schwitzarwho removed to the lodge with Ermolaiand their
mistress closed the outside door. She had closed long before the
door of the kitchen stair which allowed the domestics to enter the
villa from below. Down there each night the devoted gniagnia and
the faithful Ermolai watched in turn.

Within the villanow closedthere were on the ground-floor only
Matrena herself and her step-daughter Natachawho slept in the
chamber off the sitting-roomandabove on the first floorthe
general asleepor who ought to be asleep if he had taken his
potion. Matrena remained in the darkness of the drawing-room
her dark-lantern in her hand. All her nights passed thusgliding
from door to doorfrom chamber to chamberwatching over the watch
of the policenot daring to stop her stealthy promenade even to
throw herself on the mattress that she had placed across the
doorway of her husband's chamber. Did she ever sleep? She herself
could hardly say. Who else couldthen? A tag of sleep here and
thereover the arm of a chairor leaning against the wallwaked
always by some noise that she heard or dreamedsome warning
perhapsthat she alone had heard. And to-nightto-night there is
Rouletabille's alert guard to help herand she feels a little less
the aching terror of watchfulnessuntil there surges back into her
mind the recollection that the police are no longer there. Was he
rightthis young man? Certainly she could not deny that some way
she feels more confidence now that the police are gone. She does
not have to spend her time watching their shadows in the shadows
searching the darknessthe arm-chairsthe sofasto rouse them
to appeal in low tones to all they held bindingby their own name
and the name of their fatherto promise them a bonus that would
amount to something if they watched wellto count them in order to
know where they all wereandsuddenlyto throw full in their
face the ray of light from her little dark-lantern in order to be
sureabsolutely surethat she was face to face with themone of
the policeand not with some othersome other with an infernal
machine under his arm. Yesshe surely had less work now that she
had no longer to watch the police. And she had less fear!

She thanked the young reporter for that. Where was he? Did he
remain in the pose of a porcelain statue all this time out there
on the lawn? She peered through the lattice of the veranda shutters
and looked anxiously out into the darkened garden. Where could
he be? Was that hedown yonderthat crouching black heap with an
unlighted pipe in his mouth? Nono. Thatshe knew wellwas the
dwarf she genuinely lovedher little domovoi-doukhthe familiar
spirit of the housewho watched with her over the general's life
and thanks to whom serious injury had not yet befallen Feodor
Feodorovitch - one could not regard a mangled leg that seriously.
Ordinarily in her own country (she was from the Orel district) one
did not care to see the domovoi-doukh appear in flesh and blood.
When she was little she was always afraid that she would come upon
him around a turn of the path in her father's garden. She always
thought of him as no higher than thatseated back on his haunches
and smoking his pipe. Thenafter she was marriedshe had suddenly


run across him at a turning in the bazaar at Moscow. He was just
as she had imagined himand she had immediately bought himcarried
him home herself and placed himwith many precautionsfor he was
of very delicate porcelainin the vestibule of the palace. And in
leaving Moscow she had been careful not to leave him there. She
had carried him herself in a case and had placed him herself on the
lawn of the datcha des Ilesthat he might continue to watch over
her happiness and over the life of her Feodor. And in order that
he should not be boredeternally smoking his pipe all aloneshe
had surrounded him with a group of little porcelain geniiafter
the fashion of the Jardins des Iles. Lord! how that young Frenchman
had frightened herrising suddenly like thatwithout warningon
the lawn. She had believed for a moment that it was the
domovoi-doukh himself rising to stretch his legs. Happily he had
spoken at once and she had recognized his voice. And besidesher
domovoi surely would not speak French. Ah! Matrena Petrovna
breathed freely now. It seemed to herthis nightthat there were
two little familiar genii watching over the house. And that was
worth more than all the police in the worldsurely. How wily that
little fellow was to order all those men away. There was something
it was necessary to know; it was necessary therefore that nothing
should be in the way of learning it. As things were nowthe
mystery could operate without suspicion or interference. Only one
man watched itand he had not the air of watching. Certainly
Rouletabille had not the air of constantly watching anything. He
had the mannerout in the nightof an easy little man in porcelain
neither more nor lessyet he could see everything - if anything
were there to see - and he could hear everything - if there were
anything to hear. One passed beside him without suspecting him
and men might talk to each other without an idea that he heard
themand even talk to themselves according to the habit people
have sometimes when they think themselves quite alone. All the
guests had departed thuspassing close by himalmost brushing
himhad exchanged their "Adieus their Au revoirs and all
their final, drawn-out farewells. That dear little living domovoi
certainly was a rogue! Oh, that dear little domovoi who had been
so affected by the tears of Matrena Petrovna! The good, fat,
sentimental, heroic woman longed to hear, just then, his
reassuring voice.

It is I. Here I am said the voice of her little living familiar
spirit at that instant, and she felt her skirt grasped. She waited
for what he should say. She felt no fear. Yet she had supposed he
was outside the house. Still, after all, she was not too astonished
that he was within. He was so adroit! He had entered behind her,
in the shadow of her skirts, on all-fours, and had slipped away
without anyone noticing him, while she was speaking to her enormous,
majestic schwitzar.

So you were here?" she saidtaking his hand and pressing it
nervously in hers.

Yes, yes. I have watched you closing the house. It is a task
well-done, certainly. You have not forgotten anything.

But where were you, dear little demon? I have been into all the
corners, and my hands did not touch you.

I was under the table set with hors-d'oeuvres in the sitting-room.

Ah, under the table of zakouskis! I have forbidden them before
now to spread a long hanging cloth there, which obliges me to kick
my foot underneath casually in order to be sure there is no one
beneath. It is imprudent, very imprudent, such table-cloths. And


under the table of zakouskis have you been able to see or hear
anything?

Madame, do you think that anyone could possibly see or hear
anything in the villa when you are watching it alone, when the
general is asleep and your step-daughter is preparing for bed?

No. no. I do not believe so. I do not. No, oh, Christ!

They talked thus very low in the darkboth seated in a corner of
the sofaRouletabille's hand held tightly in the burning hands of
Matrena Petrovna.

She sighed anxiously. "And in the garden - have you heard anything?"

I heard the officer Boris say to the officer Michael, in French,
'Shall we return at once to the villa?' The other replied in
Russian in a way I could see was a refusal. Then they had a
discussion in Russian which I, naturally, could not understand.
But from the way they talked I gathered that they disagreed and
that no love was lost between them.

No, they do not love each other. They both love Natacha.

And she, which one of them does she love? It is necessary to tell
me.

She pretends that she loves Boris, and I believe she does, and yet
she is very friendly with Michael and often she goes into nooks and
corners to chat with him, which makes Boris mad with jealousy. She
has forbidden Boris to speak to her father about their marriage, on
the pretext that she does not wish to leave her father now, while
each day, each minute the general's life is in danger.

And you, madame - do you love your step-daughter?brutally
inquired the reporter.

Yes - sincerely,replied Matrena Petrovnawithdrawing her hand
from those of Rouletabille.

And she - does she love you?

I believe so, monsieur, I believe so sincerely. Yes, she loves me,
and there is not any reason why she should not love me. I believe

-understand me thoroughly, because it comes from my heart - that
we all here in this house love one another. Our friends are old
proved friends. Boris has been orderly to my husband for a very
long time. We do not share any of his too-modern ideas, and there
were many discussions on the duty of soldiers at the time of the
massacres. I reproached him with being as womanish as we were in
going down on his knees to the general behind Natacha and me, when
it became necessary to kill all those poor moujiks of Presnia. It
was not his role. A soldier is a soldier. My husband raised him
roughly and ordered him, for his pains, to march at the head of the
troops. It was right. What else could he do? The general already
had enough to fight against, with the whole revolution, with his
conscience, with the natural pity in his heart of a brave man, and
with the tears and insupportable moanings, at such a moment, of his
daughter and his wife. Boris understood and obeyed him, but, after
the death of the poor students, he behaved again like a woman in
composing those verses on the heroes of the barricades; don't you
think so? Verses that Natacha and he learned by heart, working
together, when they were surprised at it by the general. There
was a terrible scene. It was before the next-to-the-last attack.

The general then had the use of both legs. He stamped his feet and
fairly shook the house.

Madame,said Rouletabillea propos of the attacks, you must
tell me about the third.

As he said thisleaning toward herMatrena Petrovna ejaculated a
Listen!that made him rigid in the night with ear alert. What
had she heard? For himhe had heard nothing.

You hear nothing?she whispered to him with an effort. "A
tick-tack?"

No, I hear nothing.

You know - like the tick-tack of a clock. Listen.

How can you hear the tick-tack? I've noticed that no clocks are
running here.

Don't you understand? It is so that we shall be able to hear the
tick-tack better.

Oh, yes, I understand. But I do not hear anything.

For myself, I think I hear the tick-tack all the time since the
last attempt. It haunts my ears, it is frightful, to say to one's
self: There is clockwork somewhere, just about to reach the
death-tick - and not to know where, not to know where! When the
police were here I made them all listen, and I was not sure even
when they had all listened and said there was no tick-tack. It is
terrible to hear it in my ear any moment when I least expect it.
Tick-tack! Tick-tack! It is the blood beating in my ear, for
instance, hard, as if it struck on a sounding-board. Why, here
are drops of perspiration on my hands! Listen!

Ab, this time someone is talking - is crying,said the young man.

Sh-h-h!And Rouletabille felt the rigid hand of Matrena Petrovna
on his arm. "It is the general. The general is dreaming!"

She drew him into the dining-roominto a corner where they could
no longer hear the moanings. But all the doors that communicated
with the dining-roomthe drawing-room and the sitting-room
remained open behind himby the secret precaution of Rouletabille.

He waited while Matrenawhose breath he heard come hardwas a
little behind. In a momentquite talkativeand as though she
wished to distract Rouletabille's attention from the sounds above
the broken words and sighsshe continued:

See, you speak of clocks. My husband has a watch which strikes.
Well, I have stopped his watch because more than once I have been
startled by hearing the tick-tack of his watch in his
waistcoat-pocket. Koupriane gave me that advice one day when he
was here and had pricked his ears at the noise of the pendulums,
to stop all my watches and clocks so that there would be no chance
of confusing them with the tick-tack that might come from an
infernal machine planted in some corner. He spoke from experience,
my dear little monsieur, and it was by his order that all the clocks
at the Ministry, on the Naberjnaia, were stopped, my dear little
friend. The Nihilists, he told me, often use clockworks to set off
their machines at the time they decide on. No one can guess all
the inventions that they have, those brigands. In the same way,


Koupriane advised me to take away all the draught-boards from the
fireplaces. By that precaution they were enabled to avoid a
terrible disaster at the Ministry near the Pont-des-chantres, you
know, petit demovoi? They saw a bomb just as it was being lowered
nto the fire-place of the minister's cabinet.* The Nihilists held

*Actual attack on Witte.

it by a cord and were up on the roof letting it down the chimney.
One of them was caught, taken to Schlusselbourg and hanged. Here
you can see that all the draught-boards of the fireplaces are
cleared away.

Madame,interrupted Rouletabille (Matrena Petrovna did not know
that no one ever succeeded in distracting Rouletabille's attention)
madame, someone moans still, upstairs.

Oh, that is nothing, my little friend. It is the general, who has
bad nights. He cannot sleep without a narcotic, and that gives him
a fever. I am going to tell you now how the third attack came about.
And then you will understand, by the Virgin Mary, how it is I have
yet, always have, the tick-tack in my ears.

One evening when the general had got to sleep and I was in my own
roomI heard distinctly the tick-tack of clockwork operating. All
the clocks had been stoppedas Koupriane advisedand I had made
an excuse to send Feodor's great watch to the repairer. You can
understand how I felt when I heard that tick-tack. I was frenzied.
I turned my head in all directionsand decided that the sound came
from my husband's chamber. I ran there. He still sleptman that
he is! The tick-tack was there. But where? I turned here and
there like a fool. The chamber was in darkness and it seemed
absolutely impossible for me to light a lamp because I thought I
could not take the time for fear the infernal machine would go off
in those few seconds. I threw myself on the floor and listened
under the bed. The noise came from above. But where? I sprang to
the fireplacehoping thatagainst my orderssomeone had started
the mantel-clock. Noit was not that! It seemed to me now that
the tick-tack came from the hed itselfthat the machine was in the
bed. The general awaked just then and cried to me'What is it
Matrena? What are you doing?' And he raised himself in bedwhile
I cried'Listen! Hear the tick-tack. Don't you hear the
tick-tack?' I threw myself upon him and gathered him up in my arms
to carry himbut I trembled too muchwas too weak from fearand
fell back with him onto the bedcrying'Help!' He thrust me away
and said roughly'Listen.' The frightful tick-tack was behind us
nowon the table. But there was nothing on the tableonly the
night-lightthe glass with the potion in itand a gold vase where
I had placed with my own hands that morning a cluster of grasses
and wild flowers that Ermolai had brought that morning on his return
from the Orel country. With one bound I was on the table and at
the flowers. I struck my fingers among the grasses and the flowers
and felt a resistance. The tick-tack was in the bouquet! I took
the bouquet in both handsopened the window and threw it as far
as I could into the garden. At the same moment the bomb burst with
a terrible noisegiving me quite a deep wound in the hand. Truly
my dear little domovoithat day we had been very near deathbut
God and the Little Father watched over us."

And Matrena Petrovna made the sign of the cross.

All the windows of the house were broken. In all, we escaped with


the fright and a visit from the glazier, my little friend, but I
certainly believed that all was over.

And Mademoiselle Natacha?inquired Rouletabille. "She must also
have been terribly frightenedbecause the whole house must have
rocked."

Surely. But Natacha was not here that night. It was a Saturday.
She had been invited to the soiree du 'Michel' by the parents of
Boris Nikolaievitch, and she slept at their house, after supper at
the Ours, as had been planned. The next day, when she learned the
danger the general had escaped, she trembled in every limb. She
threw herself in her father's arms, weeping, which was natural
enough, and declared that she never would go away from him again.
The general told her how I had managed. Then she pressed me to
her heart, saying that she never would forget such an action, and
that she loved me more than if I were truly her mother. It was all
in vain that during the days following we sought to understand how
the infernal machine had been placed in the bouquet of wild flowers.
Only the general's friends that you saw this evening, Natacha and
I had entered the general's chamber during the day or in the evening.
No servant, no chamber-maid, had been on that floor. In the
day-time as well as all night long that entire floor is closed and
I have the keys. The door of the servants' staircase which opens
onto that floor, directly into the general's chamber, is always
locked and barred on the inside with iron. Natacha and I do the
chamber work. There is no way of taking greater precautions. Three
police agents watched over us night and day. The night of the
bouquet two had spent their time watching around the house, and the
third lay on the sofa in the veranda. Then, too, we found all the
doors and windows of the villa shut tight. In such circumstances
you can judge whether my anguish was not deeper than any I had known
hitherto. Because to whom, henceforth, could we trust ourselves?
what and whom could we believe? what and whom could we watch?
>From that day, no other person but Natacha and me have the right to
go to the first floor. The general's chamber was forbidden to his
friends. Anyway, the general improved, and soon had the pleasure
of receiving them himself at his table. I carry the general down
and take him to his room again on my back. I do not wish anyone
to help. I am strong enough for that. I feel that I could carry
him to the end of the world if that would save him. Instead of
three police, we had ten; five outside, five inside. The days went
well enough, but the nights were frightful, because the shadows of
the police that I encountered always made me fear that I was face
to face with the Nihilists. One night I almost strangled one with
my hand. It was after that incident that we arranged with
Koupriane that the agents who watched at night, inside, should stay
placed in the veranda, after having, at the end of the evening,
made complete examination of everything. They were not to leave
the veranda unless they heard a suspicious noise or I called to
them. And it was after that arrangement that the incident of the
floor happened, that has puzzled so both Koupriane and me.

Pardon, madame,interrupted Rouletabillebut the agents, during
the examination of everything, never went to the bedroom floor?

No, my child, there is only myself and Natacha, I repeat, who,
since the bouquet, go there.

Well, madame, it is necessary to take me there at once.

At once!

Yes, into the general's chamber.


But he is sleeping, my child. Let me tell you exactly how the
affair of the floor happened, and you will know as much of it as
I and as Koupriane.

To the general's chamber at once.

She took both his hands and pressed them nervously. "Little friend!
Little friend! One hears there sometimes things which are the
secret of the night! You understand me?"

To the general's chamber, at once, madame.

Abruptly she decided to take him thereagitatedupset as she was
by ideas and sentiments which held her without respite between the
wildest inquietude and the most imprudent audacity.

THE YOUTH OF MOSCOW IS DEAD

Rouletabille let himself be led by Matrena through the nightbut
he stumbled and his awkward hands struck against various things.
The ascent to the first floor was accomplished in profound silence.
Nothing broke it except that restless moaning which had so affected
the young man just before.

The tepid warmththe perfume of a woman's boudoirthenbeyond
through two doors opening upon the dressing-room which lay between
Matrena's chamber and Feodor'sthe dim luster of a night-lamp
showed the bed where was stretched the sleeping tyrant of Moscow.
Ahhe was frightening to seewith the play of faint yellow light
and diffused shadows upon him. Such heavy-arched eyebrowssuch
an aspect of pain and menacethe massive jaw of a savage come from
the plains of Tartary to be the Scourge of Godthe stiffthick
spreading beard. This was a form akin to the gallery of old nobles
at Kasanand young Rouletabille imagined him as none other than
Ivan the Terrible himself. Thus appeared as he slept the excellent
Feodor Feodorovitchthe easyspoiled father of the family table
the friend of the advocate celebrated for his feats with knife and
fork and of the bantering timber-merchant and amiable bear-hunter
the joyous Thaddeus and Athanase; Feodorthe faithful spouse of
Matrena Petrovna and the adored papa of Natachaa brave man who
was so unfortunate as to have nights of cruel sleeplessness or
dreams more frightful still.

At that moment a hoarse sigh heaved his huge chest in an uneven
rhythmand Rouletabilleleaning in the doorway of the
dressing-roomwatched - but it was no longer the general that he
watchedit was something elselower downbeside the wallnear
the doorand it was that which set him tiptoeing so lightly across
the floor that it gave no sound. There was no slightest sound in
the chamberexcept the heavy breathing lifting the rough chest.
Behind Rouletabille Matrena raised her armsas though she wished
to hold him backbecause she did not know where he was going.
What was he doing? Why did he stoop thus beside the door and why
did he press his thumb all along the floor at the doorway? He rose
again and returned. He passed again before the bedwhere rumbled
nowlike the bellows of a forgethe respiration of the sleeper.
Matrena grasped Rouletabille by the hand. And she had already
hurried him into the dressing-room when a moan stopped them.


The youth of Moscow is dead!

It was the sleeper speaking. The mouth which had given the
stringent orders moaned. And the lamentation was still a menace.
In the haunted sleep thrust upon that man by the inadequate narcotic
the words Feodor Feodorovitch spoke were words of mourning and pity.
This perfect fiend of a soldierwhom neither bullets nor bombs
could intimidatehad a way of saying words which transformed their
meaning as they came from his terrible mouth. The listeners could
not but feel absorbed in the tones of the brutal victor.

Matrena Petrovna and Rouletabille had leant their two shadows
blended one into the otheragainst the open doorway just beyond
the gleam of the night-lampand they heard with horror:

The youth of Moscow is dead! They have cleared
away the corpses. There is nothing but ruin left. The Kremlin
itself has shut its gates - that it may not see. The youth of
Moscow is dead!

Feodor Feodorovitch's fist shook above his bed; it seemed that he
was about to striketo kill againand Rouletabille felt Matrena
trembling against himwhile he trembled as well before the
fearful vision of the killer in the Red Week!

Feodor heaved an immense sigh and his breast descended under the
bed-clothesthe fist relaxed and fellthe great head lay over on
its ear. There was silence. Had he repose at last? Nono. He
sighedhe choked anewhe tossed on his couch like the damned in
tormentand the words written by his daughter - by his daughter

-blazed in his eyeswhich now were wide open - words written on
the wallthat he read on the wallwritten in blood.
The youth of Moscow is dead! They had gone so young into the
fields and into the mines,
And they had not found a single corner of the Russian land where

there were not moanings.
Now the youth of Moscow is dead and no more moanings are heard,
Because those for whom all youth died do not dare even to moan

any more.

But - what? The voice of Feodor lost its threatening tone. His
breath came as from a weeping child. And it was with sobs in his
throat that he said the last verse, the verse written by his
daughter in the album, in red letters:

The last barricade had standing there the girl of eighteen
wintersthe virgin of Moscowflower of the snow.
Who gave her kisses to the workmen struck by the bullets
from the soldiers of the Czar;
She aroused the admiration of the very soldiers who, weeping,
killed her:
What killing! All the houses shutteredthe windows with heavy
eyelids of plank in order not to see! "
And the Kremlin itself has closed its gates - that it may
not see.
The youth of Moscow is dead!

Feodor! Feodor!

She had caught him in her armsholding him fastcomforting him
while still he ravedThe youth of Moscow is dead,and appeared
to thrust away with insensate gestures a crowd of phantoms. She


crushed him to her breastshe put her hands over his mouth to make
him stopbut hesayingDo you hear? Do you hear? What do they
say? They say nothing, now. What a tangle of bodies under the
sleigh, Matrena! Look at those frozen legs of those poor girls we
pass, sticking out in all directions, like logs, from under their
icy, blooded skirts. Look, Matrena!

And then came further delirium uttered in Russianwhich was all the
more terrible to Rouletabille because he could not comprehend it.

ThensuddenlyFeodor became silent and thrust away Matrena
Petrovna.

It is that abominable narcotic,he said with an immense sigh.
I'll drink no more of it. I do not wish to drink it.

With one hand he pointed to a large glass on the table beside him
still half full of a soporific mixture with which he moistened his
lips each time he woke; with the other hand he wiped the perspiration
from his face. Matrena Petrovna stayed trembling near himsuddenly
overpowered by the idea that he might discover there was someone
there behind the doorwho had seen and heard the sleep of General
Trebassof! Ahif he learned thateverything was over. She might
say her prayers; she should die.

But Rouletabille was careful to give no sign. He barely breathed.
What a nightmare! He understood now the emotion of the general's
friends when Natacha had sung in her lowsweet voiceGood-night.
May your eyes have rest from tears and calm re-enter your heart
oppressed.The friends had certainly been made awareby Matrena's
anxious talkingof the general's insomniaand they could not
repress their tears as they listened to the poetic wish of charming
Natacha. "All the same thought Rouletabille, no one could
imagine what I have just seen. They are not dead for everyone in
the worldthe youths of Moscowand every night I know now a
chamber where in the glow of the night-lamp they rise - they rise

-they rise!" and the young man franklynaively regretted to have
intruded where he was; to have penetratedhowever unintentionally
into an affair whichafter allconcerned only the many dead and
the one living. Why had he come to put himself between the dead and
the living? It might be said to him: "The living has done his whole
heroic duty but the dead, what else was it that they had done?
Ah, Rouletabille cursed his curiosity, for - he saw it now - it was
the desire to approach the mystery revealed by Koupriane and to
penetrate once more, through all the besetting dangers, an astounding
and perhaps monstrous enigma, that had brought him to the threshold
of the datcha des Iles, which had placed him in the trembling hands
of Matrena Petrovna in promising her his help. He had shown pity,
certainly, pity for the delirious distress of that heroic woman.
But there had been more curiosity than pity in his motives. And
now he must pay, because it was too late now to withdraw, to say
casually, I wash my hands of it." He had sent away the police and
he alone remained between the general and the vengeance of the dead!
He might desertperhaps! That one idea brought him to himself
roused all his spirit. Circumstances had brought him into a camp
that he must defend at any costunless he was afraid!

The general slept noworat leastwith eyelids closed simulated
sleepdoubtless in order to reassure poor Matrena whoon her knees
beside his pillowhad retained the hand of her terrible husband in
her own. Shortly she rose and rejoined Rouletabille in her chamber.
She took him then to a little guest-chamber where she urged him to
get some sleep. He replied that it was she who needed rest. But


agitated still by what had just happenedshe babbled:

No, no! after such a scene I would have nightmares myself as well.
Ah, it is dreadful! Appalling! Appalling! Dear little monsieur,
it is the secret of the night. The poor man! Poor unhappy man!
He cannot tear his thoughts away from it. It is his worst and
unmerited punishment, this translation that Natacha has made of
Boris's abominable verses. He knows them by heart, they are in his
brain and on his tongue all night long, in spite of narcotics, and
he says over and over again all the time, 'It is my daughter who
has written that! - my daughter! - my daughter!' It is enough
to wring all the tears from one's body - that an aide-de-camp of a
general, who himself has killed the youth of Moscow, is allowed to
write such verses and that Natacha should take it upon herself to
translate them into lovely poetic French for her album. It is hard
to account for what they do nowadays, to our misery.

She ceasedfor just then they heard the floor creak under a step
downstairs. Rouletabille stopped Matrena short and drew his
revolver. He wished to creep down alonebut he had not time. As
the floor creaked a second timeMatrena's anguished voice called
down the staircase in RussianWho is there?and immediately the
calm voice of Natacha answered something in the same language.
Then Matrenatrembling more and moreand very much excited
keeping steadily to the same place as though she had been nailed
to the step of the stairwaysaid in FrenchYes, all is well;
your father is resting. Good-night, Natacha.They heard Natacha's
step cross the drawing-room and the sitting-room. Then the door of
her chamber closed. Matrena and Rouletabille descendedholding
their breath. They reached the dining-room and Matrena played her
dark-lantern on the sofa where the general always reclined. The
sofa was in its usual place on the carpet. She pushed it back and
raised the carpetlaying the floor bare. Then she got onto her
knees and examined the floor minutely. She rosewiping the
perspiration from her browput the carpet hack in placeadjusted
the sofa and dropped upon it with a great sigh.

Well?demanded Rouletabille.

Nothing at all,said she.

Why did you call so openly?

Because there was no doubt that it could only be my step-daughter
on the ground-floor at that hour.

And why this anxiety to examine the floor again?

I entreat you, my dear little child, do not see in my acts anything
mysterious, anything hard to explain. That anxiety you speak of
never leaves me. Whenever I have the chance I examine the flooring.

Madame,demanded the young manwhat was your daughter doing in
this room?

She came for a glass of mineral water; the bottle is still on the
table.

Madame, it is necessary that you tell me precisely what Koupriane
has only hinted to me, unless I am entirely mistaken. The first
time that you thought to examine the floor, was it after you heard
a noise on the ground-floor such as has just happened?

Yes. I will tell you all that is necessary. It was the night


after the attempt with the bouquet, my dear little monsieur, my
dear little domovoi; it seemed to me I heard a noise on the
ground-floor. I hurried downstairs and saw nothing suspicious at
first. Everything was shut tight. I opened the door of Natacha's
chamber softly. I wished to ask her if she had heard anything.
But she was so fast asleep that I had not the heart to awaken her.
I opened the door of the veranda, and all the police - all, you
understand - slept soundly. I took another turn around the
furniture, and, with my lantern in my hand, I was just going out
of the dining-room when I noticed that the carpet on the floor was
disarranged at one corner. I got down and my hand struck a great
fold of carpet near the general's sofa. You would have said that
the sofa had been rolled carelessly, trying to replace it in the
position it usually occupied. Prompted by a sinister presentiment,
I pushed away the sofa and I lifted the carpet. At first glance I
saw nothing, but when I examined things closer I saw that a strip
of wood did not lie well with the others on the floor. With a
knife I was able to lift that strip and I found that two nails
which had fastened it to the beam below had been freshly pulled out.
It was just so I could raise the end of the board a little without
being able to slip my hand under. To lift it any more it would be
necessary to pull at least half-a-dozen nails. What could it mean?
Was I on the point of discovering some new terrible and mysterious
plan? I let the board fall back into place. I spread the carpet
back again carefully, put the sofa in its place, and in the morning
sent for Koupriane.

Rouletabille interrupted.

You had not, madame, spoken to anyone of this discovery?

To no one.

Not even to your step-daughter?

No,said the husky voice of Matrenanot even to my step-daughter.

Why?demanded Rouletabille.

Because,replied Matrenaafter a moment's hesitationthere were
already enough frightening things about the house. I would not have
spoken to my daughter any more than I would have said a word to the
general. Why add to the disquiet they already .suffered so much,
in case nothing developed?

And what did Koupriane say?

We examined the, floor together, secretly. Koupriane slipped his
hand under more easily than I had done, and ascertained that under
the board, that is to say between the beam and the ceiling of the
kitchen, there was a hollow where any number of things might be
placed. For the moment the board was still too little released for
any maneuver to be possible. Koupriane, when he rose, said to me,
'You have happened, madame, to interrupt the person in her
operations. But we are prepared henceforth. We know what she does
and she is unaware that we know. Act as though you had not noticed
anything; do not speak of it to anyone whatever - and watch. Let
the general continue to sit in his usual place and let no one
suspect that we have discovered the beginnings of this attempt. It
is the only way we can plan so that they will continue. All the
same,' he added, 'I will give my agents orders to patrol the
ground-floor anew during the night. I would be risking too much to
let the person continue her work each night. She might continue it
so well that she would be able to accomplish it - you understand


me? But by day you arrange that the rooms on the ground-floor be
free from time to time - not for long, but from time to time.' I
don't know why, but what he said and the way he said it frightened
me more than ever. However, I carried out his program. Then, three
days later, about eight o'clock, when the night watch was not yet
started, that is to say at the moment when the police were still
all out in the garden or walking around the house, outside, and when
I had left the the ground-floor perfectly free while I helped the
general to bed, I felt drawn even against myself suddenly to the
dining-room. I lifted the carpet and examined the floor. Three
more nails had been drawn from the board, which lifted more easily
now, and under it, I could see that the normal cavity had been made
wider still!

When she had said thisMatrena stoppedas ifovercomeshe could
not tell more.

Well?insisted Rouletabille.

Well, I replaced things as I found them and made rapid inquiries
of the police and their chief; no one had entered the ground-floor.
You understand me? - no one at all. Neither had anyone come out
from it.

How could anyone come out if no one had entered?

I wish to say,said she with a sobthat Natacha during this
space of time had been in her chamber, in her chamber on the
ground-floor.

You appear to be very disturbed, madame, at this recollection.
Can you tell me further, and precisely, why you are agitated?

You understand me, surely,she saidshaking her head.

If I understand you correctly, I have to understand that from the
previous time you examined the floor until the time that you noted
three more nails drawn out, no other person could have entered the
dining-room but you and your step-daughter Natacha.

Matrena took Rouletabille's hand as though she had reached an
important decision.

My little friend,moaned shethere are things I am not able to
think about and which I can no longer entertain when Natacha embraces
me. It is a mystery more frightful than all else. Koupriane tells
me that he is sure, absolutely sure, of the agents he kept here; my
sole consolation, do you see, my little friend can tell you frankly,
now that you have sent away those men - my sole consolation since
that day has been that Koupriane is less sure of his men than I am
of Natacha.

She broke down and sobbed.

When she was calmedshe looked for Rouletabilleand could not
find him. Then she wiped her eyespicked up her dark-lantern
andfurtivelycrept to her post beside the general.

For that day these are the points in Rouletabille's notebook:

Topography: Villa surrounded by a large garden on three sides.
The fourth side gives directly onto a wooded field that stretches
to the river Neva. On this side the level of the ground is much
lower, so low that the sole window opening in that wall (the window


of Natacha's sitting-room on the ground-floor) is as high from the
ground as though it were on the next floor in any other part of the
house. This window is closed by iron shutters, fastened inside by
a bar of iron.

Friends: Atbanase GeorgevitchIvan PetrovitchThaddeus the
timber-merchant (peat boots)Michael and Boris (fine shoes).
Matrenasincere loveblundering heroism. Natacha unknown. Against
Natacha: Never there during the attacks. At Moscow at the time of
the bomb in the sleighno one knows where she wasand it is she
who should have accompanied the general (detail furnished by
Koupriane that Matrena generously kept back). The night of the
bouquet is the only night Natacha has slept away from the house.
Coincidence of the disappearance of the nails and the presence all
alone on the ground-floor of Natachain caseof courseMatrena
id not pull them out herself. For Natacha: Her eyes when she looks
at her father."

And this bizarre phrase:

We mustn't be rash. This evening I have not yet spoken to Matrena
Petrovna about the little hat-pin. That little hat-pin is the
greatest relief of my life.

BY ROULETABILLE'S 0RDER THE GENERAL PROMENADES

Good morning, my dear little familiar spirit. The general slept
splendidly the latter part of the night. He did not touch his
narcotic. I am sure it is that dreadful mixture that gives him
such frightful dreams. And you, my dear little friend, you have
not slept an instant. I know it. I felt you going everywhere
about the house like a little mouse. Ah, it seems good, so good.
I slept so peacefully, hearing the subdued movement of your little
steps. Thanks for the sleep you have given me, little friend.

Matrena talked on to Rouletahillewhom she had found the morning
after the nightmare tranquilly smoking his pipe in the garden.

Ah, ah, you smoke a pipe. Now you do certainly look exactly like
a dear little domovoi-doukh. See how much you are alike. He
smokes just like you. Nothing new, eh? You do not look very bright
this morning. You are worn out. I have just arranged the little
guest-chamber for you, the only one we have, just behind mine.
Your bed is waiting for you. Is there anything you need? Tell me.
Everything here is at your service.

I'm not in need of anything, madame,said the young man smilingly
after this outpouring of words from the goodheroic dame.

How can you say that, dear child? You will make yourself sick.
I want you to understand that I wish you to rest. I want to be a
mother to you, if you please, and you must obey me, my child. Have
you had breakfast yet this morning? If you do not have breakfast
promptly mornings, I will think you are annoyed. I am so annoyed
that you have heard the secret of the night. I have been afraid
that you would want to leave at once and for good, and that you
would have mistaken ideas about the general. There is not a
better man in the world that Feodor, and he must have a good, a
very good conscience to dare, without fail, to perform such terrible


duties as those at Moscow, when he is so good at heart. These
things are easy enough for wicked people, but for good men, for
good men who can reason it out, who know what they do and that they
are condemned to death into the bargain, it is terrible, it is
terrible! Why, I told him the moment things began to go wrong in
Moscow, 'You know what to expect, Feodor. Here is a dreadful time
to get through - make out you are sick.' I believed he was going
to strike me, to kill me on the spot. 'I! Betray the Emperor in
such a moment! His Majesty, to whom I owe everything! What are
you thinking of, Matrena Petrovna!' And he did not speak to me
after that for two days. It was only when he saw I was growing
very ill that he pardoned me, but he had to be plagued with my
jeremiads and the appealing looks of Natacha without end in his
own home each time we heard any shooting in the street. Natacha
attended the lectures of the Faculty, you know. And she knew many
of them, and even some of those who were being killed on the
barricades. Ah, life was not easy for him in his own home, the
poor general! Besides, there was also Boris, whom I love as well,
for that matter, as my own child, because I shall be very happy to
see him married to Natacha - there was poor Boris who always came
home from the attacks paler than a corpse and who could not keep
from moaning with us.

And Michael?questioned Rouletabille.

Oh, Michael only came towards the last. He is a new orderly to
the general. The government at St. Petersburg sent him, because
of course they couldn't help learning that Boris rather lacked zeal
in repressing the students and did not encourage the general in
being as severe as was necessary for the safety of the Empire. But
Michael, he has a heart of stone; he knows nothing but the
countersign and massacres fathers and mothers, crying, 'Vive le
Tsar!' Truly, it seems his heart can only be touched by the sight
of Natacha. And that again has caused a good deal of anxiety to
Feodor and me. It has caught us in a useless complication that we
would have liked to end by the prompt marriage of Natacha and Boris.
But Natacha, to our great surprise, has not wished it to be so. No,
she has not wished it, saying that there is always time to think of
her wedding and that she is in no hurry to leave us. Meantime she
entertains herself with this Michael as if she did not fear his
passion, and neither has Michael the desperate air of a man who
knows the definite engagement of Natacha and Boris. And my
step-daughter is not a coquette. No, no. No one can say she is a
coquette. At least, no one had been able to say it up to the time
that Michael arrived. Can it be that she is a coquette? They are
mysterious, these young girls, very mysterious, above all when they
have that calm and tranquil look that Natacha always has; a face,
monsieur, as you have noticed perhaps, whose beauty is rather
passive whatever one says and does, excepting when the volleys in
the streets kill her young comrades of the schools. Then I have
seen her almost faint, which proves she has a great heart under
her tranquil beauty. Poor Natacha! I have seen her excited as I
over the life of her father. My little friend, I have seen her
searching in the middle of the night, with me, for infernal
machines under the furniture, and then she has expressed the
opinion that it is nervous, childish, unworthy of us to act like
that, like timid beasts under the sofas, and she has left me to
search by myself. True, she never quits the general. She is more
reassured, and is reassuring to him, at his side. It has an
excellent moral effect on him, while I walk about and search like
a beast. And she has become as fatalistic as he, and now she sings
verses to the guzla, like Boris, or talks in corners with Michael,
which makes the two enraged each with the other. They are curious,
the young women of St. Petersburg and Moscow, very curious. We


were not like that in our time, at Orel. We did not try to enrage
people. We would have received a box on the ears if we had.

Natacha came in upon this conversationhappyin white voile
fresh and smiling like a girl who had passed an excellent night.
She asked after the health of the young man very prettily and
embraced Matrenain truth as one embraces a much-beloved mother.
She complained again of Matrena's night-watch.

You have not stopped it, mamma; you have not stopped it, eh? You
are not going to be a little reasonable at last? I beg of you!
What has given me such a mother! Why don't you sleep? Night is
made for sleep. Koupriane has upset you. All the terrible things
are over in Moscow. There is no occasion to think of them any more.
That Koupriane makes himself important with his police-agents and
obsesses us all. I am convinced that the affair of the bouquet
was the work of his police.

Mademoiselle,said RouletabilleI have just had them all sent
away, all of them - because I think very much the same as you do.

Well, then, you will be my friend, Monsieur Rouletabille I promise
you, since you have done that. Now that the police are gone we
have nothing more to fear. Nothing. I tell you, mamma; you can
believe me and not weep any more, mamma dear.

Yes, yes; kiss me. Kiss me again!repeated Matrenadrying her
eyes. "When you kiss me I forget everything. You love me like
your own motherdon't you?"

Like my mother. Like my own mother.

You have nothing to hide from me? - tell me, Natacha.

Nothing to hide.

Then why do you make Boris suffer so? Why don't you marry him?

Because I don't wish to leave you, mamma dear.

She escaped further parley by jumping up on the garden edge away
from Khorwho had just been set free for the day.

The dear child,said Matrena; "the dear little oneshe little
knows how much pain she has caused us without being aware of it
by her ideasher extravagant ideas. Her father said to me one
day at Moscow'Matrena PetrovnaI'll tell you what I think

-Natacha is the victim of the wicked books that have turned the
brains of all these poor rebellious students. Yesyes; it would
be better for her and for us if she did not know how to readfor
there are moments - my word! - when she talks very wildlyand
I have said to myself more than once that with such ideas her place
is not in our salon hut behind a barricade. All the same' he
added after reflection'I prefer to find her in the salon where I
can embrace her than behind a barricade where I would kill her like
a mad dog.' But my husbanddear little monsieurdid not say what
he really thinksfor he loves his daughter more than all the rest
of the world put togetherand there are things that even a general
yeseven a governor-generalwould not be able to do without
violating both divine and human laws. He suspects Boris also of
setting Natacha's wits awry. We really have to consider that when
they are married they will read everything they have a mind to. My
husband has much more real respect for Michael Korsakoff because of
his impregnable character and his granite conscience. More than

once he has said'Here is the aide I should have had in the worst
days of Moscow. He would have spared me much of the individual
pain.' I can understand how that would please the generalbut how
such a tigerish nature succeeds in appealing to Natachahow it
succeeds in not actually revolting herthese young girls of the
capitalone never can tell about them - they get away from all
your notions of them."

Rouletabille inquired:

Why did Boris say to Michael, 'We will return together'? Do they
live together?

Yes, in the small villa on the Krestowsky Ostrov, the isle across
from ours, that you can see from the window of the sitting-room.
Boris chose it because of that. The orderlies wished to have
camp-beds prepared for them right here in the general's house, by
a natural devotion to him; but I opposed it, in order to keep them
both from Natacha, in whom, of course, I have the most complete
confidence, but one cannot be sure about the extravagance of men
nowadays.

Ermolai came to announce the petit-dejeuner. They found Natacha
already at table and she poured them coffee and milkeating away
all the time at a sandwich of anchovies and caviare.

Tell me, mamma, do you know what gives me such an appetite? It
is the thought of the way poor Koupriane must have taken this
dismissal of his men. I should like to go to see him.

If you see him,said Rouletabilleit is unnecessary to tell him
that the general will go for a long promenade among the isles this
afternoon, because without fail he would send us an escort of
gendarmes.

Papa! A promenade among the islands? Truly? Oh, that is going
to be lovely!

Matrena Petrovna sprang to her feet.

Are you mad, my dear little domovoi, actually mad?

Why? Why? It is fine. I must run and tell papa.

Your father's room is locked,said Matrena brusquely.

Yes, yes; he is locked in. You have the key. Locked away until
death! You will kill him. It will be you who kills him.

She left the table without waiting for a reply and went and shut
herself also in her chamber.

Matrena looked at Rouletabillewho continued his breakfast as
though nothing had happened.

Is it possible that you speak seriously?she demandedcoming
over and sitting down beside him. "A promenade! Without the
policewhen we have received again this morning a letter saying
now that before forty-eight hours the general will be dead!"

Forty-eight hours,said Rouletabillesoaking his bread in his
chocolateforty-eight hours? It is possible. In any case, I
know they will try something very soon.


My God, how is it that you believe that? You speak with assurance.

Madame, it is necessary to do everything I tell you, to the letter.

But to have the general go out, unless he is guarded - how can you
take such a responsibility? When I think about it, when I really
think about it, I ask myself how you have dared send away the police.
But here, at least, I know what to do in order to feel a little safe,
I know that downstairs with Gniagnia and Ermolai we have nothing to
fear. No stranger can approach even the basement. The provisions
are brought from the lodge by our dvornicks whom we have had sent
from my mother's home in the Orel country and who are as devoted to
us as bull-dogs. Not a bottle of preserves is taken into the
kitchens without having been previously opened outside. No package
comes from any tradesman without being opened in the lodge. Here,
within, we are able to feel a little safe, even without the police

-but away from here - outside!
Madame, they are going to try to kill your husband within
forty-eight hours. Do you desire me to save him perhaps for a long
time - for good, perhaps?

Ah, listen to him! Listen to him, the dear little domovoi! But
what will Koupriane say? He will not permit any venturing beyond
the villa; none, at least for the moment. Ah, now, how he looks at
me, the dear little domovoi! Oh, well, yes. There, I will do as
you wish.

Very well, come into the garden with me.

She accompanied himleaning on his arm.

Here's the idea,said Rouletabille. "This afternoon you will go
with the general in his rolling-chair. Everybody will follow.
Everyoneyou understandMadame - understand me thoroughlyI mean
to say that everyone who wishes to come must be invited to. Only
those who wish to remain behind will do so. And do not insist. Ah
nowI seeyou understand me. Why do you tremble?"

But who will guard the house?

No one. Simply tell the servant at the lodge to watch from the
lodge those who enter the villa, but simply from the lodge, without
interfering with them, and saying nothing to them, nothing.

I will do as you wish. Do you want me to announce our promenade
beforehand?

Why, certainly. Don't be uneasy; let everybody have the good news.

Oh, I will tell only the general and his friends, you may be sure.

Now, dear Madame, just one more word. Do not wait for me at
luncheon.

What! You are going to leave us?she cried instantlybreathless.
No, no. I do not wish it. I am willing to do without the police,
but I am not willing to do without you. Everything might happen in
your absence. Everything! Everything!she repeated with singular
energy. "Becausefor meI cannot feel sure as I shouldperhaps.
Ahyou make me say these things. Such things! But do not go."

Do not be afraid; I am not going to leave you, madame.


Ah, you are good! You are kind, kind! Caracho! (Very well.)

I will not leave you. But I must not be at luncheon. If anyone
asks where I am, say that I have my business to look after, and
have gone to interview political personages in the city.

There's only one political personage in Russia,replied Matrena
Petrovna bluntly; "that is the Tsar."

Very well; say I have gone to interview the Tsar.

But no one will believe that. And where will you be?

I do not know myself. But I will be about the house.

Very well, very well, dear little domovoi.

She left himnot knowing what she thought about it allnor what
she should think - her head was all in a muddle.

In the course of the morning Athanase Georgevitch and Thaddeus
Tchnitchnikof arrived. The general was already in the veranda.
Michael and Boris arrived shortly afterand inquired in their turn
how he had passed the night without the police. When they were told
that Feodor was going for a promenade that afternoon they applauded
his decision. "Bravo! A promenade a la strielka (to the head of
the island) at the hour when all St. Petersburg is driving there.
That is fine. We will all be there." The general made them stay
for luncheon. Natacha appeared for the mealin rather melancholy
mood. A little before luncheon she had held a double conversation
in the garden with Michael and Boris. No one ever could have known
what these three young people had said if some stenographic notes in
Rouletabille's memorandum-book did not give us a notion; the reporter
had overheardby accident surelysince all self-respecting
reporters are quite incapable of eavesdropping.

The memorandum notes:

Natacha went into the garden with a bookwhich she gave to Boris
who pressed her hand lingeringly to his lips. "Here is your book;
I return it to you. I don't want any more of themthe ideas surge
so in my brain. It makes my head ache. It is trueyou are right
I don't love novelties. I can satisfy myself with Pouchkine
perfectly. The rest are all one to me. Did you pass a good night?"

Boris (good-looking young manabout thirty years oldblondea
little effeminatewistful. A curious appurtenance in the military
household of so vigorous a general). "Natachathere is not an
hour that I can call truly good if I spend it away from youdear
dear Natacha."

I ask you seriously if you have passed a good night?

She touched his hand a moment and looked into his eyesbut he
shook his head.

What did you do last night after you reached home?she demanded
insistently. "Did you stay up?"

I obeyed you; I only sat a half-hour by the window looking over
here at the villa, and then I went to bed.

Yes, it is necessary you should get your rest. I wish it for you
as for everyone else. This feverish life is impossible. Matrena


Petrovna is getting us all ill, and we shall be prostrated.

Yesterday,said BorisI looked at the villa for a half-hour
from my window. Dear, dear villa, dear night when I can feel you
breathing, living near me. As if you had been against my heart. I
could have wept because I could hear Michael snoring in his chamber.
He seemed happy. At last, I heard nothing more, there was nothing
more to hear but the double chorusof frogs in the pools of the
sland. Our pools, Natacha, are like the enchanted lakes of the
Caucasus which are silent by day and sing at evening; there are
innumerabel throngs of frogs which sing on the same chord, some of
them on a major and some on a minor. The chorus speaks from pool
to pool, lamenting and moaning across the fields and gardens, and
re-echoing like AEolian harps placed opposite one another.

Do AEolian harps make so much noise, Boris?

You laugh? I don't find you yourself half the time. It is Michael
who has changed you, and I am out of it. (Here they spoke in
Russian.) I shall not be easy until I am your husband. I can't
understand your manner with Michael at all.

(Here more Russian words which I do not understand.)

Speak French; here is the gardener,said Natacha.

I do not like the way you are managing our lives. Why do you
delay our marriage? Why?

(Russian words from Natacha. Gesture of desperation from Boris.)

How long? You say a long time? But that says nothing - a long
time. How long? A year? Two years? Ten years? Tell meor I
will kill myself at your feet. Nono; speak or I will kill
Michael. On my word! Like a dog!"

I swear to you, by the dear head of your mother, Boris, that the
date of our marriage does not depend on Michael.

(Some words in Russian. Borisa little consoledholds her hand
lingeringly to his lips.)

Conversation between Michael and Natacha in the garden:

Well? Have you told him?

I ended at last by making him understand that there is not any
hope. None. It is necessary to have patience. I have to have it
myself.

He is stupid and provoking.

Stupid, no. Provoking, yes, if you wish. But you also, you are
provoking.

Natacha! Natacha!

(Here more Russian.) As Natacha started to leaveMichael placed
his hand on her shoulderstopped her and saidlooking her direct
in the eyes:

There will be a letter from Annouchka this evening, by a messenger
at five o'clock.He made each syllable explicit. "Very important
and requiring an immediate reply."


These notes of Rouletabille's are not followed by any commentary.

After luncheon the gentlemen played poker until half-past four
which is the "chic" hour for the promenade to the head of the
island. Rouletabille had directed Matrena to start exactly at a
quarter to five. He appeared in the meantimeannouncing that he
had just interviewed the mayor of St. Petersburgwhich made Athanase
laughwho could not understand that anyone would come clear from
Paris to talk with men like that. Natacha came from her chamber to
join them for the promenade. Her father told her she looked too
worried.

They left the villa. Rouletabille noted that the dvornicks were
before the gate and that the schwitzar was at his postfrom which
he could detect everyone who might enter or leave the villa.
Matrena pushed the rolling-chair herself. The general was radiant.
He had Natacha at his right and at his left Athanase and Thaddeus.
The two orderlies followedtalking with Rouletabillewho had
monopolized them. The conversation turned on the devotion of
Matrena Petrovnawhich they placed above the finest heroic traits
in the women of antiquityand also on Natacha's love for her father.
Rouletabille made them talk.

Boris Mourazoff explained that this exceptional love was accounted
for by the fact that Natacha's own motherthe general's first wife
died in giving birth to their daughterand accordingly Feodor
Feodorovitch had been both father and mother to his daughter. He
had raised her with the most touching carenot permitting anyone
elsewhen she was sickto have the care of passing the nights by
her bedside.

Natacha was seven years old when Feodor Feodorovitch was appointed
governor of Orel. In the country near Orelduring the summerthe
general and his daughter lived on neighborly terms near the family
of old Petroffone of the richest fur merchants in Russia. Old
Petroff had a daughterMatrenawho was magnificent to seelike
a beautiful field-flower. She was always in excellent humornever
spoke ill of anyone in the neighborhoodand not only had the fine
manners of a city dame but a greatsimple heartwhich she lavished
on the little Natacha.

The child returned the affection of the beautiful Matrenaand it
was on seeing them always happy to find themselves together that
Trebassof dreamed of reestablishing his fireside. The nuptials
were quickly arrangedand the childwhen she learned that her
good Matrena was to wed her papadanced with joy. Then misfortune
came only a few weeks before the ceremony. Old Petroffwho
speculated on the Exchange for a long time without anyone knowing
anything about itwas ruined from top to bottom. Matrena came one
evening to apprise Feodor Feodorovitch of this sad news and return
his pledge to him. For all response Feodor placed Natacha in
Matrena's arms. "Embrace your mother he said to the child, and
to Matrena, From to-day I consider you my wifeMatrena Petrovna.
You should obey me in all things. Take that reply to your father
and tell him my purse is at his disposition."

The general was alreadyat that timeeven before he had inherited
the Cheremaieffimmensely rich. He had lands behind Nijni as vast
as a provinceand it would have been difficult to count the number
of moujiks who worked for him on his property. Old Pretroff gave
his daughter and did not wish to accept anything in exchange. Feodor
wished to settle a large allowance on his wife; her father opposed
thatand Matrena sided with him in the matter against her husband


because of Natacha. "It all belongs to the little one she
insisted. I accept the position of her motherbut on the condition
that she shall never lose a kopeck of her inheritance."

So that,concluded Borisif the general died tomorrow she would
be poorer than Job.

Then the general is Matrena's sole resource,reflected Rouletabille
aloud.

I can understand her hanging onto him,said Michael Korsakoff
blowing the smoke of his yellow cigarette. "Look at her. She
watches him like a treasure."

What do you mean, Michael Nikolaievitch?said Boriscurtly.
You believe, do you, that the devotion of Matrena Petrovna is not
disinterested. You must know her very poorly to dare utter such
a thought.

I have never had that thought, Boris Alexandrovitch,replied the
other in a tone curter still. "To be able to imagine that anyone
who lives in the Trebassofs' home could have such a thought needs
an ass's headsurely."

We will speak of it again, Michael Nikolaievitch.

At your pleasure, Boris Alexandrovitch.

They had exchanged these latter words tranquilly continuing their
walk and negligently smoking their yellow tobacco. Rouletabille was
between them. He did not regard them; he paid no attention even to
their quarrel; he had eyes only for Natachawho just now quit her
place beside her father's wheel-chair and passed by them with a
little nod of the headseeming in haste to retrace the way back to
the villa.

Are you leaving us?Boris demanded of her.

Oh, I will rejoin you immediately. I have forgotten my umbrella.

But I will go and get it for you,proposed Michael."

No, no. I have to go to the villa; I will return right away.

She was already past them. Rouletabilleduring thislooked at
Matrena Petrovnawho looked at him alsoturning toward the young
man a visage pale as wax. But no one else noted the emotion of the
good Matrenawho resumed pushing the general's wheel-chair.

Rouletabille asked the officersWas this arrangement because the
first wife of the general, Natacha's mother, was rich?

No. The general, who always had his heart in his hand,said
Borismarried her for her great beauty. She was a beautiful girl
of the Caucasus, of excellent family besides, that Feodor
Feodorovitch had known when he was in garrison at Tiflis.

In short,said Rouletabillethe day that General Trebassof dies
Madame Trebassof, who now possesses everything, will have nothing,
and the daughter, who now has nothing, will have everything.

Exactly that,said Michael.

That doesn't keep Matrena Petrovna and Natacha Feodorovna from


deeply loving each other,observed Boris.

The little party drew near the "Point." So far the promenade had
been along pleasant open countryamong the low meadows traversed
by fresh streamsacross which tiny bridges had been builtamong
bright gardens guarded by porcelain dwarfsor in the shade of
small weeds from the feet of whose trees the newly-cut grass gave
a seasonal fragrance. All was reflected in the pools - which lay
like glass whereon a scene-painter had cut the green hearts of the
pond-lily leaves. An adorable country glimpse which seemed to have
been created centuries back for the amusement of a queen and
preservedimmaculately trimmed and cleanedfrom generation to
generationfor the eternal charm of such an hour as this on the
banks of the Gulf of Finland.

Now they had reached the bank of the Gulfand the waves rippled to
the prows of the light shipswhich dipped gracefully like huge and
rapid sea-gullsunder the pressure of their great white sails.

Along the roadwaybroader nowglidedsilently and at walking
pacethe double file of luxurious equipages with impatient horses
the open carriages in which the great personages of the court saw
the view and let themselves be seen. Enormous coachmen held the
reins high. Lively young womennegligently reclining against the
cushionsdisplayed their new Paris toilettesand kept young
officers on horseback busy with salutes. There were all kinds of
uniforms. No talking was heard. Everyone was kept busy looking.
There rang in the purethin air only the noise of the champing bits
and the tintinnabulation of the bells attached to the hairy Finnish
ponies' collars. And all thatso beautifulfreshcharming and
clearand silentit all seemed more a dream than even that which
hung in the poolssuspended between the crystal of the air and the
crystal of the water. The transparence of the sky and the
transparence of the gulf blended their two unrealities so that one
could not note where the horizons met.

Rouletabille looked at the view and looked at the generaland in
all his young vibrating soul there was a sense of infinite sadness
for he recalled those terrible words in the night: "They have gone
into all the corners of the Russian landand they have not found
a single corner of that land where there are not moanings." "Well
thought he, they have not come into this cornerapparently. I
don't know anything lovelier or happier in the world." Nono
Rouletabillethey have not come here. In every country there is
a corner of happy lifewhich the poor are ashamed to approach
which they know nothing ofand of which merely the sight would
turn famished mothers enragedwith their thin bosomsandif it
is not more beautiful than thatcertainly no part of the earth is
made so atrocious to live in for somenor so happy for others as
in this Scythian countrythe boreal country of the world.

Meanwhile the little group about the general's rolling-chair had
attracted attention. Some passers-by salutedand the news spread
quickly that General Trebassof had come for a promenade to "the
Point." Heads turned as carriages passed; the generalnoticing
how much excitement his presence producedbegged Matrena Petrovna
to push his chair into an adjacent by-pathbehind a shield of
trees where he would be able to enjoy the spectacle in peace.

He was foundneverthelessby Kouprianethe Chief of Policewho
was looking for him. He had gone to the datcha and been told
there that the generalaccompanied by his friends and the young
Frenchmanhad gone for a turn along the gulf. Koupriane had left
his carriage at the datchaand taken the shortest route after them.


He was a fine manlargesolidclear-eyed. His uniform showed
his fine build to advantage. He was generally liked in St.
Petersburgwhere his martial bearing and his well-known bravery
had given him a sort of popularity in societywhichon the other
handhad great disdain for Gounsovskithe head of the Secret
Policewho was known to be capable of anything underhanded and
had been accused of sometimes play-ng into the hands of the
Nihilistswhom he disguised as agents-provocateurswithout
anybody really doubting itand he had to fight against these
widespread political suspicions.

Well-informed men declared that the death of the previous "prime
mnister who had been blown up before Varsovie station when he was
on his way to the Tsar at Peterhof, was Gounsovski's work and that
in this he was the instrument of the party at court which had sworn
the death of the minister which inconvenienced it.* On the other

1Rumored cause of Plehve's assassination.

hand, everyone regarded Koupriane as incapable of participating in
any such horrors and that he contented himself with honest
performance of his obvious duties, confining himself to ridding the
streets of its troublesome elements, and sending to Siberia as many
as he could of the hot-heads, without lowering himself to the
compromises which, more than once, had given grounds for the enemies
of the empire to maintain that it was difilcult to say whether the
chiefs of the Russian police played the part of the law or that of
the revolutionary party, even that the police had been at the end
of a certain time of such mixed procedure hardly able to decide
themselves which they did.

This afternoon Koupriane appeared very nervous. He paid his
compliments to the general, grumbled at his imprudence, praised him
for his bravery, and then at once picked out Rouletabille, whom he
took aside to talk to.

You have sent my men back to me said he to the young reporter.
You understand that I do not allow that. They are furiousand
quite rightly. You have given publicly as explanation of their
departure - a departure which has naturally astonishedstupefied
the general's friends - the suspicion of their possible participation
in the last attack. That is abominableand I will not permit it.
My men have not been trained in the methods of Gounsovskiand it
does them a cruel injurywhich I resentfor that matter
personallyto treat them this way. But let that goas a matter
of sentimentand return to the simple fact itselfwhich proves
your excessive imprudencenot to say moreand which involves you
you alonein a responsibility of which you certainly have not
measured the importance. All in allI consider that you have
strangely abused the complete authority that I gave you upon the
Emperor's orders. When I learned what you had done I went to find
the Tsaras was my dutyand told him the whole thing. He was more
astonished than can be expressed. He directed me to go myself to
find out just how things were and to furnish the general the guard
you had removed. I arrive at the isles and not only find the villa
open like a mill where anyone may enterbut I am informedand then
I seethat the general is promenading in the midst of the crowd
at the mercy of the first miserable venturer. Monsieur Rouletabille
I am not satisfied. The Tsar is not satisfied. Andwithin an hour
my men will return to assume their guard at the datcha."


Rouletabille listened to the end. No one ever had spoken to him in
that tone. He was redand as ready to burst as a child's balloon
blown too hard. He said:

And I will take the train this evening.

You will go?

Yes, and you can guard your general all alone. I have had enough
of it. Ah, you are not satisfied! Ah, the Tsar is not satisfied!
It is too bad. No more of it for me. Monsieur, I am not satisfied,
and I say Good-evening to you. Only do not forget to send me from
here every three or four days a letter which will keep me informed
of the health of the general, whom I love dearly. I will offer up
a little prayer for him.

Thereupon he was silentfor he caught the glance of Matrena
Petrovnaa glance so desolatedso imploringso desperatethat
the poor woman inspired him anew with great pity. Natacha had not
returned. What was the young girl doing at that moment? If Matrena
really loved Natacha she must be suffering atrociously. Koupriane
spoke; Rouletabille did not hear himand he had already forgotten
his own anger. His spirit was wrapped in the mystery.

Monsieur,Koupriane finished by sayingtugging his sleevedo
you hear me? I pray you at least reply to me. I offer all possible
excuses for speaking to you in that tone. I reiterate them. I ask
your pardon. I pray you to explain your conduct, which appeared
imprudent to me but which, after all, should have some reason. I
have to explain to the Emperor. Will you tell me? What ought I to
say to the Emperor?

Nothing at all,said Rouletabille. "I have no explanation to
give you or the Emperoror to anyone. You can offer him my utmost
homage and do me the kindness to vise my passport for this evening."

And he sighed:

It is too bad, for we were just about to see something interesting.

Koupriane looked at him. Rouletabille had not quitted Matrena
Petrovna's eyesand her pallor struck Koupriane.

Just a minute,continued the young man. "I'm sure there is
someone who will miss me - that brave woman there. Ask her which
she prefersall your policeor her dear little domovoi. We are
good friends already. And - don't forget to present my condolences
to her when the terrible moment has come."

It was Koupriane's turn to be troubled.

He coughed and said:

You believe, then, that the general runs a great immediate danger?

I do not only believe it, monsieur, I am sure of it. His death
is a matter of hours for the poor dear man. Before I go I shall
not fail to tell him, so that he can prepare himself comfortably
for the great journey and ask pardon of the Lord for the rather
heavy hand he has laid on these poor men of Presnia.

Monsieur Rouletabille, have you discovered something?

Good Lord, yes, I have discovered something, Monsieur Koupriane.


You don't suppose I have come so far to waste my time, do you?

Something no one else knows?

Yes, Monsieur Koupriane, otherwise I shouldn't have troubled to
feel concerned. Something I have not confided to anyone, not even
to my note-hook, because a note-book, you know, a note-book can
always be lost. I just mention that in case you had any idea of
having me searched before my departure.

Oh, Monsieur Rouletabille!

Eh, eh, like the way the police do in your country; in mine too,
for that matter. Yes, that's often enough seen. The police,
furious because they can't hit a clue in some case that interests
them, arrest a reporter who knows more than they do, in order to
make him talk. But - nothing of that sort with me, monsieur. You
might have me taken to your famous 'Terrible Section,' I'd not open
my mouth, not even in the famous rocking-chair, not even under the
blows of clenched fists.

Monsieur Rouletabille, what do you take us for? You are the guest
of the Tsar.

Ah, I have the word of an honest man. Very well, I will treat you
as an honest man. I will tell you what I have discovered. I don't
wish through any false pride to keep you in darkness about something
which may perhaps - I say perhaps - permit you to save the general.

Tell me. I am listening.

But it is perfectly understood that once I have told you this you
will give me my passport and allow me to depart?

You feel that you couldn't possibly,inquired Kouprianemore and
more troubledand after a moment of hesitationyou couldn't
possibly tell me that and yet remain?

No, monsieur. From the moment you place me under the necessity of
explaining each of my movements and each of my acts, I prefer to go
and leave to you that 'responsibility' of which you spoke just now,
my dear Monsieur Koupriane.

Astonished and disquieted by this long conversation between
Rouletabille and the Head of PoliceMatrena Petrovna continually
turned upon them her anguished glancewhich always insensihly
softened as it rested on Rouletabille. Koupriane read there all
the hope that the brave woman had in the young reporterand he
read also in Rouletabille's eye all the extraordinary confidence
that the mere boy had in himself. As a last consideration had he
not already something in hand in circumstances where all the
police of the world had admitted themselves vanquished? Koupriane
pressed Rouletabille's hand and said just one word to him:

Remain.

Having saluted the general and Matrena affectionatelyand a group
of friends in one courteous sweephe departedwith thoughtful brow.

During all this time the generalenchanted with the promenade
told stories of the Caucasus to his friendsbelieving himself young
again and re-living his nights as sub-lieutenant at Tills. As to
Natachano one had seen her. They retraced the way to the villa
along deserted by-paths. Koupriane's call made occasion for Athanase


Georgevitch and Thaddeusand the two officers alsoto say that he
was the only honest man in all the Russian policeand that Matrena
Petrovna was a great woman to have dared rid herself of the entire
clique of agentswho are often more revolutionary than the
Nihilists themselves. Thus they arrived at the datcha.

The general inquired for Natachanot understanding why she had
left him thus during his first venture out. The schwitzar replied
that the young mistress had returned to the house and had left again
about a quarter of an hour latertaking the way that the party had
gone on their promenadeand he had not seen her since.

Boris spoke up:

She must have passed on the other side of the carriages while we
were behind the trees, general, and not seeing us she has gone on
her way, making the round of the island, over as far as the Barque.

The explanation seemed the most plausible one.

Has anyone else been here?demanded Matrenaforcing her voice to
be calm. Rouletabille saw her hand tremble on the handle of the
rolling-chairwhich she had not quitted for a second during all
the promenaderefusing aid from the officersthe friendsand
even from Rouletabille.

First there came the Head of Police, who told me he would go and
find you, Barinia, and right after, His Excellency the Marshal of
the Court. His Excellency will return, although he is very pressed
for time, before he takes the train at seven o'clock for
Krasnoie-Coelo.

All this had been said in Russiannaturallybut Matrena translated
the words of the schwitzar into French in a low voice for
Rouletabillewho was near her. The general during this time had
taken Rouletabille's hand and pressed it affectionatelyas ifin
that mute wayto thank him for all the young man bad done for
them. Feodor himself also had confidenceand he was grateful for
the freer air that he was being allowed to breathe. It seemed to
him that he was emerging from prison. Neverthelessas the
promenade had been a little fatiguingMatrena ordered him to go
and rest immediately. Athanase and Thaddeus took their leave.
The two officers were already at the end of the gardentalking
coldlyand almost confronting one anotherlike wooden soldiers.
Without doubt they were arranging the conditions of an encounter to
settle their little difference at once.

The schwitzar gathered the general into his great arms and carried
him into the veranda. Feodor demanded five minutes' respite before
he was taken upstairs to his chamber. Matrena Petrovna had a light
luncheon brought at his request. In truththe good woman trembled
with impatience and hardly dared move without consulting
Rouletabille's face. While the general talked with Ermolaiwho
passed him his teaRouletabille made a sign to Matrena that she
understood at once. She joined the young man in the drawing-room.

Madame,he said rapidlyin a low voiceyou must go at once to
see what has happened there.

He pointed to the dining-room.

Very well.

It was pitiful to watch her.


Go, madame, with courage.

Why don't you come with me?

Because, madame, I have something to do elsewhere. Give me the
keys of the next floor.

No, no. What for?

Not a second's delay, for the love of Heaven. Do what I tell you
on your side, and let me do mine. The keys! Come, the keys!

He snatched them rather than took themand pointed a last time to
the dining-room with a gesture so commanding that she did not
hesitate further. She entered the dining-roomshakingwhile he
bounded to the upper floor. He was not long. He took only time
to open the doorsthrow a glance into the general's chambera
single glanceand to returnletting a cry of joy escape him
borrowed from his new and very limited accomplishment of Russian
Caracho!

How Rouletabillewho had not spent half a second examining the
general's chamberwas able to be certain that all went well on
that sidewhen it took Matrena - and that how many times a day!

-at least a quarter of an hour of ferreting in all the corners
each time she explored her house before she was even inadequately
reassuredwas a question. If that dear heroic woman had been with
him during this "instant information" she would have received such
a shock thatwith all confidence goneshe would have sent for
Koupriane immediatelyand all his agentsreinforced by the
personnel of the Okrana (Secret Police). Rouletabille at once
rejoined the generalwhistling. Feodor and Ermolai were deep in
conversation about the Orel country. The young man did not disturb
them. ThensoonMatrena reappeared. He saw her come in quite
radiant. He handed back her keysand she took them mechanically.
She was overjoyed and did not try to hide it. The general himself
noticed itand asked what had made her so.
It is my happiness over our first promenade since we arrived at
the datcha des Iles,she explained. "And now you must go upstairs
to bedFeodor. You will pass a good nightI am sure."

I can sleep only if you sleep, Matrena.

I promise you. It is quite possible now that we have our dear
little domovoi. You know, Feodor, that he smokes his pipe just
like the dear little porcelain domovoi.

He does resemble him, he certainly does,said Feodor. "That
makes us feel happybut I wish him to sleep also."

Yes, yes,smiled Rouletabilleeverybody will sleep here. That
is the countersign. We have watched enough. Since the police are
gone we can all sleep, believe me, general.

Eh, eh, I believe you, on my word, easily enough. There were only
they in the house capable of attempting that affair of the bouquet.
I have thought that all out, and now I am at ease. And anyway,
whatever happens, it is necessary to get sleep, isn't it? The
chances of war! Nichevo!He pressed Rouletabille's handand
Matrena Petrovna tookas was her habitFeodor Feodorovitch on her
back and lugged him to his chamber. In that also she refused aid
from anyone. The general clung to his wife's neck during the ascent


and laughed like a child. Rouletabille remained in the hallway
watching the garden attentively. Ermolai walked out of the villa
and crossed the gardengoing to meet a personage in uniform whom
the young man recognized immediately as the grand-marshal of the
courtwho had introduced him to the Tsar. Ermolai informed him
that Madame Matrena was engaged in helping her husband retireand
the marshal remained at the end of the garden where he had found
Michael and Boris talking in the kiosque. All three remained there
for some time in conversationstanding by a table where General
and Madame Trebassof sometimes dined when they bad no guests. As
they talked the marshal played with a box of white cardboard tied
with a pink string. At this moment Matrenawho had not been able
to resist the desire to talk for a moment with Rouletabille and
tell him how happy she wasrejoined the young man.

Little domovoi,said shelaying her hand on his shoulderyou
have not watched on this side?

She pointed in her turn to the dining-room.

No, no. You have seen it, madame, and I am sufficiently informed.

Perfectly. There is nothing. No one has worked there! No one
has touched the board. I knew it. I am sure of it. It is dreadful
what we have thought about it! Oh, you do not know how relieved and
happy I am. Ah, Natacha, Natacha, I have not loved you in vain.
(She pronounced these words in accents of great beauty and tragic
sincerity.) When I saw her leave us, my dear, ah, my legs sank
under me. When she said, 'I have forgotten something; I must hurry
back,' I felt I had not the strength to go a single step. But now
I certainly am happy, that weight at least is off my heart, off my
heart, dear little domovoi, because of you, because of you.

She embraced himand then ran awaylike one possessedto resume
her post near the general.

Notes in Rouletabille's memorandum-book: The affair of the little
cavity under the floor not having been touched again proves nothing
for or against Natacha (even though that excellent Matrena Petrovna
thinks so). Natacha could very well have been warned by the too
great care with which Madame Matrena watched the floor. My opinion
since I saw Matrena lift the carpet the first time without any real
precautionis that they have definitely abandoned the preparation
of that attack and are trying to account for the secret becoming
known. What Matrena feels so sure of is that the trap I laid by
the promenade to the Point was against Natacha particularly. I
knew beforehand that Natacha would absent herself during the
promenade. I'm not looking for anything new from Natachabut what
I did need was to be sure that Matrena didn't detest Natachaand
that she had not faked the preparations for an attack under the
floor in such a way as to throw almost certain suspicion on her
step-daughter. I am sure about that now. Matrena is innocent of
such a thingthe poor dear soul. If Matrena had been a monster
the occasion was too good. Natacha's absenceher solitary
presence for a quarter of an hour in the empty villaall would
have urged Matrenawhom I sent alone to search under the carpet
in the dining-roomto draw the last nails from the board if she
was really guilty of having drawn the others. Natacha would have
been lost then! Matrena returned sincerelytragically happy at
not having found anything newand now I have the material proof
that I needed. Morally and physically Matrena is removed from it.
So I am going to speak to her about the hat-pin. I believe that
the matter is urgent on that side rather than on the side of the
nails in the floor.


THE MYSTERIOUS HAND

After the departure of MatrenaRouletabille turned his attention
to the garden. Neither the marshal of the court nor the officers
were there any longer. The three men had disappeared. Rouletabille
wished to know at once where they had gone. He went rapidly to the
gatenamed the officers and the marshal to Ermolaiand Ermolai
made a sign that they had passed out. Even as he spoke he saw the
marshal's carriage disappear around a corner of the road. As to
the two officersthey were nowhere on the roadway. He was
surprised that the marshal should have gone without seeing Matrena
or the general or himselfandabove allhe was disquieted by the
disappearance of the orderlies. He gathered from the gestures of
Ermolai that they had passed before the lodge only a few minutes
after the marshal's departure. They had gone together. Rouletabille
set himself to follow themtraced their steps in the soft earth of
the roadway and soon they crossed onto the grass. At this point
the tracks through the massed ferns became very difficult to follow.
He hurried alongbending close to the ground over such traces as he
could seewhich continually led him astraybut which conducted him
finally to the thing that he sought. A noise of voices made him
raise his head and then throw himself behind a tree. Not twenty
steps from him Natacha and Boris were having an animated
conversation. The young officer held himself erect directly in
front of herfrowning and impatient. Under the uniform cloak that
he had wrapped about him without having bothered to use the sleeves
which were tossed up over his chestBoris had his arms crossed.
His entire attitude indicated hauteurcoldness and disdain for
what he was hearing. Natacha never appeared calmer or more mistress
of herself. She talked to him rapidly and mostly in a low voice.
Sometimes a word in Russian soundedand then she resumed her care
to speak low. Finally she ceasedand Borisafter a short silence
in which he had seemed to reflect deeplypronounced distinctly
these words in Frenchpronouncing them syllable by syllableas
though to give them additional force:

You ask a frightful thing of me.

It is necessary to grant it to me,said the young girl with
singular energy. "You understandBoris Alexandrovitch! It is
necessary."

Her gazeafter she had glanced penetratingly all around her and
discovered nothing suspiciousrested tenderly on the young
officerwhile she murmuredMy Boris!The young man could not
resist either the sweetness of that voicenor the captivating charm
of that glance. He took the hand she extended toward him and kissed
it passionately. His eyesfixed on Natachaproclaimed that he
granted everything that she wished and admitted himself vanquished.
Then she saidalways with that adorable gaze upon himThis
evening!He repliedYes, yes. This evening! This evening!
upon which Natacha withdrew her hand and made a sign to the officer
to leavewhich he promptly obeyed. Natacha remained there still a
long timeplunged in thought. Rouletabille had already taken the
road back to the villa. Matrena Petrovna was watching for his
returnseated on the first step of the landing on the great
staircase which ran up from the veranda. When she saw him she ran


to him. He had already reached the dining-room.
Anyone in the house?he asked.
No one. Natacha has not returned, and ...
Your step-daughter is coming in now. Ask her where she has been,


if she has seen the orderlies, and if they said they would return


this evening, in case she answers that she has seen them.
Very well, little domovoi doukh. The orderlies left without my
seeing when they went.


Ab,interrupted Rouletabillebefore she arrives, give me all
her hat-pins.
What!


I say, all her hat-pins. Quickly!
Matrena ran to Natacha's chamber and returned with three enormous
hat-pins with beautifully-cut stones in them.


These are all?


They are all I have found. I know she has two others. She has


one on her head, or two, perhaps; I can't find them.
Take these back where you found them,said the reporterafter
glancing at them.


Matrena returned immediatelynot understanding what he was doing.
And now, your hat-pins. Yes, your hat-pins.
Oh, I have only two, and here they are,said shedrawing them


from the toque she had been wearing and had thrown on the sofa when
she re-entered the house.
Rouletabille gave hers the same inspection.
Thanks. Here is your step-daughter.


Natacha enteredflushed and smiling.
Ah, well,said shequite breathlessyou may boast that I had
to search for you. I made the entire round, clear past the Barque.
Has the promenade done papa good?


Yes, he is asleep,replied Matrena. "Have you met Boris and
Michael?"
She appeared to hesitate a secondthen replied:
Yes, for an instant.
Did they say whether they would return this evening?
No,she repliedslightly troubled. "Why all these questions?
She flushed still more.
Because I thought it strange,parried Matrenathat they went



away as they did, without saying goodby, without a word, without
inquiring if the general needed them. There is something stranger
yet. Did you see Kaltsof with them, the grand-marshal of the court?

No.

Kaltsof came for a moment, entered the garden and went away again
without seeing us, without saying even a word to the general.

Ab,said Natacha.

With apparent indifferenceshe raised her arms and drew out her
hat-pins. Rouletabille watched the pin without a word. The young
girl hardly seemed aware of their presence. Entirely absorbed in
strange thoughtsshe replaced the pin in her hat and went to hang
it in the verandawhich served also as vestibule. Rouletabille
never quitted her eyes. Matrena watched the reporter with a stupid
glance. Natacha crossed the drawing-room and entered her chamber
by passing through her little sitting-roomthrough which all
entrance to her chamber had to be made. That little roomthough
had three doors. One opened into Natacha's chamberone into the
drawing-roomand the third into the little passage in a corner of
the house where was the stairway by which the servants passed from
the kitchens to the ground-floor and the upper floor. This passage
had also a door giving directly upon the drawing-room. It was
certainly a poor arrangement for serving the dining-roomwhich was
on the other side of the drawing-room and behind the verandasuch
a chance laying-out of a house as one often sees in the off-hand
planning of many places in the country.

Alone again with RouletabilleMatrena noticed that he had not lost
sight of the corner of the veranda where Natacha had hung her hat.
Beside this hat there was a toque that Ermolai had brought in. The
old servant had found it in some corner of the garden or the
conservatory where he had been. A hat-pin stuck out of that toque
also.

Whose toque is that?asked Rouletabille. "I haven't seen it on
the head of anyone here."

It is Natacha's,replied Matrena.

She moved toward itbut the young man held her backwent into the
veranda himselfandwithout touching itstanding on tiptoehe
examined the pin. He sank back on his heels and turned toward
Matrena. She caught a glimpse of fleeting emotion on the face of
her little friend.

Explain to me,she said.

But be gave her a glance that frightened herand said low:

Go and give orders right away that dinner be served in the veranda.
All through dinner it is absolutely necessary that the door of
Natacha's sitting-room, and that of the stairway passage, and that
of the veranda giving on the drawing-room remain open all the time.
Do you understand me? As soon as you have given your orders go to
the general's chamber and do not quit the general's bedside, keep
it in view. Come down to dinner when it is announced, and do not
bother yourself about anything further.

So sayinghe filled his pipelighted it with a sort of sigh of
reliefandafter a final order to Matrena Go,he went into
the gardenpuffing great clouds. Anyone would have said he hadn't


smoked in a week. He appeared not to be thinking but just idly
enjoying himself. In facthe played like a child with Milinki
Matrena's pet catwhich he pursued behind the shrubsup into the
little kiosque whichraised on pileslifted its steep thatched
roof above the panorama of the isles that Rouletabille settled down
to contemplate like an artist with ample leisure.

The dinnerwhere MatrenaNatacha and Rouletabille were together
againwas lively. The young man having declared that he was more
and more convinced that the mystery of the bomb in the bouquet was
simply a play of the policeNatacha reinforced his opinionand
following that they found themselves in agreement on about
everything else. For himselfthe reporter during that conversation
hid a real horror which had seized him at the cynical and
inappropriate tranquillity with which the young lady received all
suggestions that accused the police or that assumed the general no
longer ran any immediate danger. In shorthe workedor at least
believed he workedto clear Natacha as he had cleared Matrenaso
that there would develop the absolute necessity of assuming a third
person's intervention in the facts disclosed so clearly by Koupriane
where Matrena or Natacha seemed alone to be possible agents. As he
listened to Natacha Rouletabille commenced to doubt and quake just
as he had seen Matrena do. The more he looked into the nature of
Natacha the dizzier he grew. What abysmal obscurities were there
in her nature!

Nothing interesting happened during dinner. Several timesin
spite of Rouletabille's obvious impatience with her for doing it
Matrena went up to the general. She returned sayingHe is quiet.
He doesn't sleep. He doesn't wish anything. He has asked me to
prepare his narcotic. It is too bad. He has tried in vain, he
cannot get along without it.

You, too, mamma, ought to take something to make you sleep. They
say morphine is very good.

As for me,said Rouletabillewhose head for some few minutes
had been dropping now toward one shoulder and now toward another
I have no need of any narcotic to make me sleep. If you will
permit me, I will get to bed at once.

Eh, my little domovoi doukh, I am going to carry you there in my
arms.

Matrena extended her large round arms ready to take Rouletabille
as though he had been a baby.

No, no. I will get up there all right alone,said Rouletabille
rising stupidly and appearing ashamed of his excessive sleepiness.

Oh, well, let us both accompany him to his chamber,said Natacha
and I will wish papa good-night. I'm eager for bed myself. We will
all make a good night of it. Ermolai and Gniagnia will watch with
the schwitzar in the lodge. Things are reasonably arranged now.

They all ascended the stairs. Rouletabille did not even go to see
the generalbut threw himself on his bed. Natacha got onto the
bed beside her fatherembraced him a dozen timesand went
downstairs again. Matrena followed behind herclosed doors and
windowswent upstairs again to close the door of the landing-place
and found Rouletabille seated on his bedhis arms crossednot
appearing to have any desire for sleep at all. His face was so
strangely pensive also that the anxiety of Matrenawho had been
able to make nothing out of his acts and looks all daycame back


upon her instantly in greater force than ever. She touched his arm
in order to be sure that he knew she was there.

My little friend,she saidwill you tell me now?

Yes, madame,he replied at once. "Sit in that chair and listen
to me. There are things you must know at oncebecause we have
reached a dangerous hour."

The hat-pins first. The hat-pins!

Rouletabille rose lightly from the bed andfacing herbut watching
something besides hersaid:

It is necessary you should know that someone almost immediately
is going to renew the attempt of the bouquet.

Matrena sprang to her feet as quickly as though she had been told
there was a bomb in the seat of her chair. She made herself sit
down againhoweverin obedience to Rouletabile's urgent look
commanding absolute quiet.

Renew the attempt of the bouquet!she murmured in a stifled voice.
But there is not a flower in the general's chamber.

Be calm, madame. Understand me and answer me: You heard the
tick-tack from the bouquet while you were in your own chamber?

Yes, with the doors open, natural1y.

You told me the persons who came to say good-night to the general.
At that time there was no noise of tick-tack?

No, no.

Do you think that if there had been any tick-tack then you would
have heard it, with all those persons talking in the room?

I hear everything. I hear everything.

Did you go downstairs at the same time those people did?

No, no; I remained near the general for some time, until he was
sound asleep.

And you heard nothing?

Nothing.

You closed the doors behind those persons?

Yes, the door to the great staircase. The door of the servants'
stairway was condemned a long time ago; it has been locked by me,
I alone have the key and on the inside of the door opening into the
general's chamber there is also a bolt which is always shot. All
the other doors of the chambers have been condemned by me. In order
to enter any of the four rooms on this floor it is necessary now to
pass by the door of my chamber, which gives on the main staircase.

Perfect. Then, no one has been able to enter the apartment. No
one had been in the apartment for at least two hours excepting you
and the general, when you heard the clockwork. From that the only
conclusion is that only the general and you could have started it
going.


What are you trying to say?Matrena demandedastounded.

I wish to prove to you by this absurd conclusion, madame, that it
is necessary never - never, you understand? Never - to reason
solely upon even the most evident external evidence when those
seemingly-conclusive appearances are in conflict with certain moral
truths that also are clear as the light of day. The light of day
for me, madame, is that the general does not desire to commit
suicide and, above all, that he would not choose the strange method
of suicide by clockwork. The light of day for me is that you adore
your husband and that you are ready to sacrifice your life for his.

Now! exclaimed Matrena, whose tears, always ready in emotional
moments, flowed freely. ButHoly Marywhy do you speak to me
without looking at me? What is it? What is it?"

Don't turn! Don't make a movement! You hear - not a move! And
speak low, very low. And don't cry, for the love of God!

But you say at once ... the bouquet! Come to the general's room!

Not a move. And continue listening to me without interrupting,
said hestill inclining his earand still without looking at her.
It is because these things were as the light of day to me that I
say to myself, 'It is impossible that it should be impossible for
a third person not to have placed the bomb in the bouquet. Someone
is able to enter the general's chamber even when the general is
watching and all the doors are locked.

Oh, no. No one could possibly enter. I swear it to you.

As she swore it a little too loudlyRouletabille seized her arm
so that she almost cried outbut she understood instantly that it
was to keep her quiet.

I tell you not to interrupt me, once for all.

But, then, tell me what you are looking at like that.

I am watching the corner where someone is going to enter the
general's chamber when everything is locked, madame. Do not move!

Matrenaher teeth chatteringrecalled that when she entered
Rouletabille's chamber she had found all the doors open that
communicated with the chain of rooms: the young man's chamber with
hersthe dressing-room and the general's chamber. She triedunder
Rouletabille's lookto keep calmbut in spite of all the reporter's
exhortations she could not hold her tongue.

But which way? Where will they enter?

By the door.

Which door?

That of the chamber giving on the servants' stair-way.

Why, how? The key! The bolt!

They have made a key.

But the bolt is drawn this side.


They will draw it back from the other side.

What! That is impossible.

Rouletabille laid his two hands on Matrena's strong shoulders and
repeateddetaching each syllableThey will draw it back from the
other side.

It is impossible. I repeat it.

Madame, your Nihilists haven't invented anything. Iit is a trick
much in vogue with sneak thieves in hotels. All it needs is a
little hole the size of a pin bored in the panel of the door above
the bolt.

God!quavered Matrena. "I don't understand what you mean by your
little hole. Explain to melittle domovoi."

Follow me carefully, then,continued Rouletabillehis eyes all
the time fixed elsewhere. "The person who wishes to enter sticks
through the hole a brass wire that he has already given the necessary
curve to and which is fitted on its end with a light point of steel
curved inward. With such an instrument it is child's playif the
hole has been made where it ought to beto touch the bolt on the
inside from the outsidepick the knob on itwithdraw itand open
the door if the bolt is like this onea small door-bolt."

Oh, oh, oh,moaned Matrenawho paled visibly. "And that hole?"

It exists.

You have discovered it?

Yes, the first hour I was here.

Oh, domovoi! But how did you do that when you never entered the
general's chamber until to-night?

Doubtless, but I went up that servants' staircase much earlier
than that. And I will tell you why. When I was brought into the
villa the first time, and you watched me, bidden behind the door,
do you know what I was watching myself, while I appeared to be
solely occupied digging out the caviare? The fresh print of
boot-nails which left the carpet near the table, where someone had
spilled beer (the beer was still running down the cloth). Someone
had stepped in the beer. The boot-print was not clearly visible
excepting there. But from there it went to the door of the servants'
stairway and mounted the stairs. That boot was too fine to be
mounting a stairway reserved to servants and that Koupriane told
me had been condemned, and it was that made me notice it in a
moment; but just then you entered.

You never told me anything about it. Of course if I had known
there was a boot-print...

I didn't tell you anything about it because I had my reasons for
that, and, anyway, the trace dried while I was telling you about
my journey.

Ah, why not have told me later?

Because I didn't know you yet.

Subtle devil! You will kill me. I can no longer... Let us go


into the general's chamber. We will wake him.

Remain here. Remain here. I have not told you anything. That
boot-print preoccupied me, and later, when I could get away from the
dining-room, I was not easy until I had climbed that stairway myself
and gone to see that door, where I discovered what I have just told
you and what I am going to tell you now.

What? What? In all you have said there has been nothing about
the hat-pins.

We have come to them now.

And the bouquet attack, which is going to happen again? Why? Why?

This is it. When this evening you let me go to the general's
chamber, I examined the bolt of the door without your suspecting it.
My opinion was confirmed. It was that way that the bomb was brought,
and it is by that way that someone has prepared to return.

But how? You are sure the little hole is the way someone came?
But what makes you think that is how they mean to return? You know
well enough that, not having succeeded in the general's chamber,
they are at work in the dining-room.

Madame, it is probable, it is certain that they have given up the
work in the dining-room since they have commenced this very day
working again in the general's chamber. Yes, someone returned,
returned that way, and I was so sure of that, of the forthcoming
return, that I removed the police in order to be able to study
everything more at my ease. Do you understand now my confidence
and why I have been able to assume so heavy a responsibility? It
is because I knew I had only one thing to watch: one little hat-pin.
It is not difficult, madame, to watch a single little hat-pin.

A mistake,said Matrenain a low voice. "Miserable little
domovoi who told me nothingme whom you let go to sleep on my
mattressin front of that door that might open any moment."

No, madame. For I was behind it!

Ah, dear little holy angel! But what were you thinking of! That
door has not been watched this afternoon. In our absence it could
have been opened. If someone has placed a bomb during our absence!

That is why I sent you at once in to the dining-room on that search
that I thought would be fruitless, dear madame. And that is why I
hurried upstairs to the bedroom. I went to the stairway door
instantly. I had prepared for proof positive if anyone had pushed
it open even half a millimeter. No, no one had touched the door in
our absence.

Ahdear heroic little friend of Jesus! But listen to me. Listen
to memy angel. AhI don't know where I am or what I say. My
brain is no more than a flabby balloon punctured with pinswith
little holes of hat-pins. Tell me about the hat-pins. Right off!
Noat firstwhat is it that makes you believe - good God! - that
someone will return by that door? How can you see thatall that
in a poor little hat-pin?"

Madame, it is not a single hat-pin hole; there are two of them.

Two hat-pin holes?"


Yes, two. An old one and a new one. One quite new. Why this
second hole? Because the old one was judged a little too narrow
and they wished to enlarge it, and in enlarging it they broke off
the point of a hat-pin in it. Madame, the point is there yet,
filling up the little old hole and the piece of metal is very sharp
and very bright.

now I understand the examination of the hat-pins. Then it is so
easy as that to get through a door with a hat-pin?"

Nothing easier, especially if the panel is of pine. Sometimes one
happens to break the point of a pin in the first hole. Then of
necessity one makes a second. In order to commence the second hole,
the point of the pin being broken, they have used the point of a
pen-knife, then have finished the hole with the hat-pin. The second
hole is still nearer the bolt than the first one. Don't move like
that, madame.

But they are going to come! They are going to come!

I believe so.

But I can't understand how you can remain so quiet with such a
certainty. Great heavens! what proof have you that they have not
been there already?

Just an ordinary pin, madame, not a hat-pin this time. Don't
confuse the pins. I will show you in a little while.

He will drive me distracted with his pins, dear light of my eyes!
Bounty of Heaven! God's envoy! Dear little happiness-bearer!

In her transport she tried to take him in her trembling armsbut
he waved her back. She caught her breath and resumed:

Did the examination of all the hat-pins tell you anything?

Yes. The fifth hat-pin of Mademoiselle Natacha's, the one in the
toque out in the veranda, has the tip newly broken off.

0 misery!cried Matrenacrumpling in her chair.

Rouletabille raised her.

What would you have? I have examined your own hat-pins. Do you
think I would have suspected you if I had found one of them broken?
I would simply have thought that someone had used your property for
an abominable purpose, that is all.

Oh, that is true, that is true. Pardon me. Mother of Christ, this
boy crazes me! He consoles me and he horrifies me. He makes me
think of such dreadful things, and then he reassures me. He does
what he wishes with me. What should I become without him?

And this time she succeeded in taking his head in her two hands and
kissing him passionately. Rouletabille pushed her back roughly.

You keep me from seeing,he said.

She was in tears over his rebuff. She understood now. Rouletabille
during all this conversation had not ceased to watch through the
open doors of Matrena's room and the dressing-room the farther fatal
door whose brass bolt shone in the yellow light of the night-lamp.


At last he made her a sign and the reporterfollowed by Matrena
advanced on tip-toe to the threshold of the general's chamber
keeping close to the wall. Feodor Feodorovitch slept. They heard
his heavy breathbut he appeared to be enjoying peaceful sleep.
The horrors of the night before had fled. Matrena was perhaps right
in attributing the nightmares to the narcotic prepared for him each
nightfor the glass from which he drank it when he felt he could
not sleep was still full and obviously had not been touched. The
bed of the general was so placed that whoever occupied iteven if
they were wide awakecould not see the door giving on the servants'
stairway. The little table where the glass and various phials were
placed and which had borne the dangerous bouquetwas placed near
the beda little back of itand nearer the door. Nothing would
have been easier than for someone who could open the door to
stretch an arm and place the infernal machine among the wild flowers
above allas could easily be believedif he had waited for that
treachery until the heavy breathing of the general told them outside
that he was fast asleepand iflooking through the key-holehe
had made sure Matrena was occupied in her own chamber. Rouletabille
at the thresholdglided to one sideout of the line of view from
the holeand got down on all fours. He crawled toward the door.
With his head to the floor he made sure that the little ordinary
pin which he had placed on guard that eveningstuck in the floor
against the doorwas still erecthaving thus additional proof that
the door had not been moved. In any other case the pin would have
lain flat on the floor. He crept backrose to his feetpassed
into the dressing-room andin a cornerhad a rapid conversation
in a low voice with Matrena.

You will go,said heand take your mattress into the corner of
the dressing-room where you can still see the door but no one can
see you by looking through the key-hole. Do that quite naturally,
and then go to your rest. I will pass the night on the mattress,
and I beg you to believe that I will be more comfortable there than
on a bed of staircase wood where I spent the night last night,
behind the door.

Yes, but you will fall asleep. I don't wish that.

What are you thinking, madame?

I don't wish it. I don't wish it. I don't wish to quit the door
where the eye is. And since I'm not able to sleep, let me watch.

He did not insistand they crouched together on the mattress.
Rouletabille was squatted like a tailor at work; but Matrena
remained on all-foursher jaw outher eyes fixedlike a
bulldog ready to spring. The minutes passed by in profound silence
broken only by the irregular breathing and puffing of the general.
His face stood out pallid and tragic on the pillow; his mouth was
open andat timesthe lips moved. There was fear at any moment
of nightmare or his awakening. Unconsciously he threw an arm over
toward the table where the glass of narcotic stood. Then he lay
still again and snored lightly. The night-lamp on the mantelpiece
caught queer yellow reflections from the corners of the furniture
from the gilded frame of a picture on the wall and from the phials
and glasses on the table. But in all the chamber Matrena Petrovna
saw nothingthought of nothing but the brass bolt which shone there
on the door. Tired of being on her kneesshe shiftedher chin
in her handsher gaze steadily fixed. As time passed and nothing
happened she heaved a sigh. She could not have said whether she
hoped for or dreaded the coming of that something new which
Rouletabille had indicated. Rouletabille felt her shiver with
anguish and impatience.


As for himhe had not hoped that anything would come to pass until
toward dawnthe momentas everyone knowswhen deep sleep is most
apt to vanquish all watchfulness and all insomnia. And as he waited
for that moment he had not budged any more than a Chinese ape or the
dear little porcelain domovoi doukh in the garden. Of course it
might be that it was not to happen this night.

Suddenly Matrena's hand fell on Rouletabille's. His imprisoned
hers so firmly that she understood she was forbidden to make the
least movement. And bothwith necks extendedears erectwatched
like beastslike beasts on the scent.

Yesyesthere had been a slight noise in the lock. A key turned
softlysoftlyin the lockand then - silence; and then another
little noisea grinding sounda slight grating of wireabove
then on the bolt; upon the bolt which shone in the subdued glow of
the night-lamp. The bolt softlyvery softlyslipped slowly.

Then the door was pushed slowlyso slowly. It opened.

Through the opening the shadow of an arm stretchedan arm which
held in its fingers something which shone. Rouletabille felt
Matrena ready to bound. He encircled herhe pressed her in his
armshe restrained her in silenceand he had a horrible fear
of hearing her suddenly shoutwhile the arm stretched outalmost
touched the pillow on the bed where the general continued to sleep
a sleep of peace such as he had not known for a long time.

ARSENATE OF SODA

The mysterious hand held a phial and poured the entire contents
into the potion. Then the hand withdrew as it had comeslowly
prudentlyslylyand the key turned in the lock and the bolt
slipped back into place.

Like a wolfRouletabillewarning Matrena for a last time not to
budgegained the landing-placebounded towards the stairsslid
down the banister right to the verandacrossed the drawing-room
like a flashand reached the little sitting-room without having
jostled a single piece of furniture. He noticed nothingsaw
nothing. All around was undisturbed and silent.

The first light of dawn filtered through the blinds. He was able
to make out that the only closed door was the one to Natacha's
chamber. He stopped before that doorhis heart beatingand
listened. But no sound came to his ear. He had glided so lightly
over the carpet that he was sure he had not been heard. Perhaps
that door would open. He waited. In vain. It seemed to him there
was nothing alive in that house except his heart. He was stifled
with the horror that he glimpsedthat he almost touchedalthough
that door remained closed. He felt along the wall in order to
reach the windowand pulled aside the curtain. Window and blinds
of the little room giving on the Neva were closed. The bar of iron
inside was in its place. Then he went to the passagemounted and
descended the narrow servants' stairwaylooked all aboutin all
the roomsfeeling everywhere with silent handsassuring himself
that no lock had been tampered with. On his return to the veranda


as he raised his headhe saw at the top of the main staircase a
figure wan as deatha spectral apparition amid the shadows of the
passing nightwho leaned toward him. It was Matrena Petrovna.
She came downsilent as a phantoms and he no longer recognized her
voice when she demanded of himWhere? I require that you tell me.
Where?

I have looked everywhere,he saidso low that Matrena had to
come nearer to understand his whisper. "Everything is shut tight.
And there is no one about."

Matrena looked at Rouletabille with all the power of her eyesas
though she would discover his inmost thoughtsbut his clear glance
did not waverand she saw there was nothing he wished to hide.
Then Matrena pointed her finger at Natacha's chamber.

You have not gone in there?she inquired.

He repliedIt is not necessary to enter there.

I will enter there, myself, nevertheless,said sheand she set
her teeth.

He barred her way with his arms spread out.

If you hold the life of someone dear,said hedon't go a step
farther.

But the person is in that chamber. The person is there! It is
there you will find out!And she waved him aside with a gesture
as though she were sleepwalking.

To recall her to the reality of what he had said to her and to make
her understand what he desiredhe had to grip her wrist in the
vice of his nervous hand.

The person is not there, perfhaps,he said his head.
Understand me now.

But she did not understand him. She said:

Since the person is nowhere else, the person must be there.

But Rouletabille continued obstinately:

No, no. Perhaps he is gone.

Gone! And everything locked on the inside!

That is not a reason,he replied.

But she could not follow his thoughts any further. She wished
absolutely to make her way into Natacha's chamber. The obsession
of that was upon her.

If you enter there,said heand if (as is most probable) you
don't find what you seek there, all is lost! And as to me, I give
up the whole thing.

She sank in a heap onto a chair.

Don't despair,he murmured. "We don't know for sure yet."

She shook her poor old head dejectedly.


We know that only she is here, since no one has been able to enter
and since no one has been able to leave.

Thatin truthfilled her brainprevented her from discerning in
any corner of her mind the thought of Rouletabille. Then the
impossible dialogue resumed.

I repeat that we do not know but that the person has gone,repeated
the reporterand demanded her keys.

Foolish,she said. "What do you want them for?"

To search outside as we have searched inside.

Why, everything is locked on the inside!

Madame, once more, that is no reason that the person may not be
outside.

He consumed five minutes opening the door of the verandaso many
were his precautions. She watched him impatiently.

He whispered to her:

I am going out, but don't you lose sight of the little sitting-room.
At the least movement call me; fire a revolver if you need to.

He slipped into the garden with the same precautions for silence.
>From the corner that she kept tothrough the doors left open
Matrena could follow all the movements of the reporter and watch
Natacha's chamber at the same time. The attitude of Rouletabille
continued to confuse her beyond all expression. She watched what
he did as if she thought him besotted. The dyernick on guard out
in the roadway also watched the young man through the bars of the
gate in consternationas though he thought him a fool. Along the
paths of beaten earth or cement which offered no chance for
footprints Rouletabille hurried silently. Around him he noted that
the grass of the lawn had not been trodden. And then he paid no
more attention to his steps. He seemed to study attentively the
rosy color in the eastbreathing the delicacy of dawning morning
in the Islesamid the silence of the earthwhich still slumbered.

Bare-headedface thrown backhands behind his backeyes raised
and fixedhe made a few stepsthen suddenly stopped as if he had
been given an electric shock. As soon as he seemed to have
recovered from that shock he turned around and went a few steps
back to another pathinto which he advancedstraight aheadhis
face highwith the same fixed look that he had had up to the time
he so suddenly stoppedas if something or someone advised or warned
him not to go further. He continually worked back toward the house
and thus he traversed all the paths that led from the villabut in
all these excursions he took pains not to place himself in the field
of vision from Natacha's windowa restricted field because of its
location just around an abutment of the building. To ascertain
about this window he crept on all-fours up to the garden-edge that
ran along the foot of the wall and had sufficient proof that no one
had jumped out that way. Then he went to rejoin Matrena in the
veranda.

No one has come into the garden this morning,said heand no
one has gone out of the villa into the garden. Now I am going to
look outside the grounds. Wait here; I'll be back in five minutes.


He went awayknocked discreetly on the window of the lodge and
waited some seconds. Ermolai came out and opened the gate for him.
Matrena moved to the threshold of the little sitting-room and
watched Natacha's door with horror. She felt her legs give under
hershe could not stand up under the diabolic thought of such a
crime. Ahthat armthat arm! reaching outmaking its waywith
a little shining phial in its hand. Pains of Christ! What could
there be in the damnable books over which Natacha and her companions
pored that could make such abominable crimes possible? AhNatacha
Natacha! it was from her that she would have desired the answer
straining her almost to stifling on her rough bosom and strangling
her with her own strong hand that she might not hear the response.
AhNatachaNatachawhom she had loved so much! She sank to the
floorcrept across the carpet to the doorand lay therestretched
like a beastand buried her bead in her arms while she wept over
her daughter. NatachaNatachawhom she had cherished as her own
childand who did not hear her. Ahwhat use that the little
fellow had gone to search outside when the whole truth lay behind
this door? Thinking of himshe was embarrassed lest he should
find her in that animalistic postureand she rose to her knees and
worked her way over to the window that looked out upon the Neva.
The angle of the slanting blinds let her see well enough what
passed. outsideand what she saw made her spring to her feet.
Below her the reporter was going through the same incomprehensible
maneuvers that she had seen him do in the garden. Three pathways
led to the little road that ran along the wall of the villa by the
bank of the Neva. The young manstill with his hands behind his
back and with his face uptook them one after the other. In the
first he stopped at the first step. He didn't take more than two
steps in the second. In the thirdwhich cut obliquely toward the
right and seemed to run to the bank nearest Krestowsky Ostrowshe
saw him advance slowly at firstthen more quickly among the small
trees and hedges. Once only he stopped and looked closely at the
trunk of a tree against which he seemed to pick out something
invisibleand then he continued to the bank. There he sat down
on a stone and appeared to reflectand then suddenly he cast off
his jacket and trouserspicked out a certain place on the bank
across from himfinished undressing and plunged into the stream.
She saw at once that he swam like a porpoisekeeping beneath and
showing his head from time to timebreathingthen diving below
the surface again. He reached Krestowsky Ostrow in a clump of reeds.
Then he disappeared. Below himsurrounded by treescould be seen
the red tiles of the villa which sheltered Boris and Michael. From
that villa a person could see the window of the sitting-room in
General Trebassof's residencebut not what might occur along the
bank of the river just below its walls. An isvotchick drove along
the distant route of Krestowskyconveying in his carriage a company
of young officers and young women who had been feasting and who sang
as they rode; then deep silence ensued. Matrena's eyes searched for
Rouletabillebut could not find him. How long was he going to stay
hidden like that? She pressed her face against the chill window.
What was she waiting for? She waited perhaps for someone to make a
move on this sidefor the door near her to open and the traitorous
figure of The Other to appear.

A hand touched her carefully. She turned.

Rouletabille was therehis face all scarred by red scratches
without collar or neck-tiehaving hastily resumed his clothes. He
appeared furious as he surprised her in his disarray. She let him
lead her as though she were a child. He drew her to his room and
closed the door.

Madame,he commencedit is impossible to work with you. Why


in the world have you wept not two feet from your step-daughter's
door? You and your Koupriane, you commence to make me regret the
Faubourg Poissoniere, you know. Your step-daughter has certainly
heard you. It is lucky that she attaches no importance at all to
your nocturnal phantasmagorias, and that she has been used to them
a long time. She has more sense than you, Mademoiselle Natacha has.
She sleeps, or at least she pretends to sleep, which leaves
everybody in peace. What reply will you give her if it happens
that she asks you the reason to-day for your marching and
counter-marching up and down the sitting-room and complains that
you kept her from sleeping?

Matrena only shook her oldold head.

No, no, she has not heard me. I was there like a shadow, like a
shadow of myself. She will never hear me. No one hears a shadow.

Rouletabille felt returning pity for her and spoke more gently.

In any case, it is necessary, you must understand, that she
should attach no more importance to what you have done to-night
than to the things she knows of your doing other nights. It is not
the first time, is it, that you have wandered in the sitting-room?
You understand me? And to-morrow, madame, embrace her as you
always have.

No, not that,she moaned. "Never that. I could not."

Why not?

Matrena did not reply. She wept. He took her in his arms like a
child consoling its mother.

Don't cry. Don't cry. All is not lost. Someone did leave the
villa this morning.

Oh, little domovoi! How is that? How is that? How did you find
that out?

Since we didn't find anything inside, it was certainly necessary to
find something outside.

And you have found it?

Certainly.

The Virgin protect you!

SHE is with us. She will not desert us. I will even say that I
believe she has a special guardianship over the Isles. She watches
over them from evening to morning.

What are you saying?

Certainly. You don't know what we call in France 'the watchers of
the Virgin'?

Oh, yes, they are the webs that the dear little beasts of the good
God spin between the trees and that...

Exactly. You understand me and you will understand further when
you know that in the garden the first thing that struck me across
the face as I went into it was these watchers of the Virgin spun by
the dear little spiders of the good God. At first when I felt them


on my face I said to myself, 'Hold on, no one has passed this way,'
and so I went to search other places. The webs stopped me
everywhere in the garden. But, outside the garden, they kept out
of the way and let me pass undisturbed down a pathway which led to
the Neva. So then I said to myself, 'Now, has the Virgin by accident
overlooked her work in this pathway? Surely not. Someone has
ruined it.' I found the shreds of them hanging to the bushes, and
so I reached the river.

And you threw yourself into the river, my dear angel. You swim
like a little god.

And I landed where the other landed. Yes, there were the reeds all
freshly broken. And I slipped in among the bushes.

Where to?

Up to the Villa Krestowsky, madame - where they both live.

Ah, it was from there someone came?

There was a silence between them.

She questioned:

Boris?

Someone who came from the villa and who returned there. Boris or
Michael, or another. They went and returned through the reeds.
But in coming they used a boat; they returned by swimming.

Her customary agitation reasserted itself.

She demanded ardently:

And you are sure that he came here and that he left here?

Yes, I am sure of it.

How?

By the sitting-room window.

It is impossible, for we found it locked.

It is possible, if someone closed it behind him.

Ah!

She commenced to tremble againandfalling back into her
nightmarish horrorshe no longer wasted fond expletives on her
domovoi as on a dear little angel who had just rendered a service
ten times more precious to her than life. While he listened
patientlyshe said brutally:

Why did you keep me from throwing myself on him, from rushing upon
him as he opened the door? Ah, I would have, I would have ... we
would know.

No. At the least noise he would have closed the door. A turn of
the key and he would have escaped forever. And he would have been
warned.

Careless boy! Why then, if you knew he was going to come, didn't


you leave me in the bedroom and you watch below yourself?

Because so long as I was below he would not have come. He only
comes when there is no one downstairs.

Ah, Saints Peter and Paul pity a poor woman. Who do you think it
is, then? Who do you think it is? I can't think any more. Tell
me, tell me that. You ought to know - you know everything. Come

-who? I demand the truth. Who? Still some agent of the Committee,
of the Central Committee? Still the Nihilists?
If it was only that!said Rouletabille quietly.

You have sworn to drive me mad! What do you mean by your 'if it
was only that'?

Rouletabilleimperturbabledid not reply.

What have you done with the potion?said he.

The potion? The glass of the crime! I have locked it in my room,
in the cupboard - safe, safe!

Ah, but, madame, it is necessary to replace it where you took
it from.

What!

Yes, after having poured the poison into a phial, to wash the glass
and fill it with another potion.

You are right. You think of everything. If the general wakes and
wants his potion, he must not be suspicious of anything, and he must
be able to have his drink.

It is not necessary that he should drink.

Well, then, why have the drink there?

So that the person can be sure, madame, that if he has not drunk
it is simply because he has not wished to. A pure chance, madame,
that he is not poisoned. You understand me this time?

Yes, yes. 0 Christ! But how now, if the general wakes and wishes
to drink his narcotic?

Tell him I forbid it. And here is another thing you must do.
When - Someone - comes into the general's chamber, in the morning,
you must quite openly and naturally throw out the potion, useless
and vapid, you see, and so Someone will have no right to be
astonished that the general continues to enjoy excellent health.

Yes, yes, little one; you are wiser than King Solomon. And what
will I do with the phial of poison?

Bring it to me.

Right away.

She went for it and returned five minutes later.

He is still asleep. I have put the glass on the table, out of his
reach. He will have to call me.


Very good. Then push the door to, close it; we have to talk
things over.

But if someone goes back up the servants' staircase?

Be easy about that. They think the general is poisoned already.
It is the first care-free moment I have been able to enjoy in this
house.

When will you stop making me shake with horror, little demon! You
keep your secret well, I must say. The general is sleeping better
than if he really were poisoned. But what shall we do about Natacha?
I dare ask you that - you and you alone.

Nothing at all.

How - nothing?

We will watch her...

Ah, yes, yes.

Still, Matrena, you let me watch her by myself.

Yes, yes, I promise you. I will not pay any attention to her.
That is promised. That is promised. Do as you please. Why, just
now, when I spoke of the Nihilists to you, did you say, 'If it were
only that!'? You believe, then, that she is not a Nihilist? She
reads such things - things like on the barricades...

Madame, madame, you think of nothing but Natacha. You have
promised me not to watch her; promise me not to think about her.

Why, why did you say, 'If it was only that!'?

Because, if there were only Nihilists in your affair, dear madame,
it would be too simple, or, rather, it would have been more simple.
Can you possibly believe, madame, that simply a Nihilist, a Nihilist
who was only a Nihilist, would take pains that his bomb exploded
from a vase of flowers? - that it would have mattered where, so
long as it overwhelmed the general? Do you imagine that the bomb
would have had less effect behind the door than in front of it? And
the little cavity under the floor, do you believe that a genuine
revolutionary, such as you have here in Russia, would amuse himself
by penetrating to the villa only to draw out two nails from a board,
when one happens to give him time between two visits to the
dining-room? Do you suppose that a revolutionary who wished to
avenge the dead of Moscow and who could succeed in getting so far
as the door behind which General Trebassof slept would amuse himself
by making a little hole with a pin in order to draw back the bolt
and amuse himself by pouring poison into a glass? Why, in such a
case, he would have thrown his bomb outright, whether it blew him
up along with the villa, or he was arrested on the spot, or had to
submit to the martyrdom of the dungeons in the Fortress of SS. Peter
and Paul, or be hung at Schlusselburg. Isn't that what always
happens? That is the way he would have done, and not have acted
like a hotel-rat! Now, there is someone in your home (or who comes
to your home) who acts like a hotel-rat because he does not wish to
be seen, because he does not wish to be discovered, because he does
not wish to be taken in the act. Now, the moment that he fears
nothing so much as to be taken in the act, so that he plays all
these tricks of legerdemain, it is certain that his object lies
beyond the act itself, beyond the bomb, beyond the poison. Why all
this necessity for bombs of deferred explosion, for clockwork placed


where it will be confused with other things, and not on a bare
staircase forbidden to everbody, though you visit it twenty times
a day?

But this man comes in as he pleases by day and by night? You don't
answer. You know who he is, perhaps?

I know him, perhaps, but I am not sure who it is yet.

You are not curious, little domovoi doukh! A friend of the house,
certainly, and who enters the house as he wishes, by night, because
someone opens the window for him. And who comes from the Krestowsky
Villa! Boris or Michael! Ah, poor miserable Matrena! Why don't
they kill poor Matrena? Their general! Their general! And they
are soldiers - soldiers who come at night to kill their general.
Aided by - by whom? Do you believe that? You? Light of my eyes!
you believe that! No, no, that is not possible! I want you to
understand, monsieur le domovoi, that I am not able to believe
anything so horrible. No, no, by Jesus Christ Who died on the
Cross, and Who searches our hearts, I do not believe that Boris

-who, however, has very advanced ideas, I admit - it is necessary
not to forget that; very advanced; and who composes very advanced
verses also, as I have always told him - I will not believe that
Boris is capable of such a fearful crime. As to Michael, he is an
honest man, and my daughter, my Natacha, is an honest girl.
Everything looks very bad, truly, but I do not suspect either Michael
or Boris or my pure and beloved Natacha (even though she has made
a translation into French of very advanced verses, certainly most
improper for the daughter of a general). That is what lies at the
bottom of my mind, the bottom of my heart - you have understood me
perfectly, little angel of paradise? Ah, it is you the general owes
his life to, that Matrena owes her life. Without you this house
would already be a coffin. How shall I ever reward you? You wish
for nothing! I annoy you! You don't even listen to me! A coffin
-we would all be in our coffins! Tell me what you desire. All
that I have belongs to you!
I desire to smoke a pipe.


Aha pipe! Do you want some yellow perfumed tobacco that I
receive every month from Constantinoplea treat right from the
harem? I will get enough for youif you like itto smoke ten
thousand pipes full."


I prefer caporal,replied Rouletabille. "But you are right. It
is not wise to suspect anybody. Seewatchwait. There is always
timeonce the game is caughtto say whether it is a hare or a
wild boar. Listen to methenmy good mamma. We must know first
what is in the phial. Where is it?"


Here it is.


She drew it from her sleeve. He stowed it in his pocket.


You wish the general a good appetite, for me. I am going out.
I will be back in two hours at the latest. And, above all, don't
let the general know anything. I am going to see one of my friends
who lives in the Aptiekarski pereolek.*


* The little street of the apothecaries.
Depend on me, and get back quickly for love of me. My blood clogs


in my heart when you are not here, dear servant of God.

She mounted to the general's room and came down at least ten times
to see if Rouletabille had not returned. Two hours later he was
around the villaas he had promised. She could not keep herself
from running to meet himfor which she was scolded.

Be calm. Be calm. Do you know what was in the phial?

No.

Arsenate of soda, enough to kill ten people.

Holy Mary!

Be quiet. Go upstairs to the general.

Feodor Feodorovitch was in charming humor. It was his first good
night since the death of the youth of Moscow. He attributed it to
his not having touched the narcotic and resolvedonce moreto
give up the narcotica resolve Rouletabille and Matrena encouraged.
During the conversation there was a knock at the door of Matrena's
chamber. She ran to see who was thereand returned with Natacha
who wished to embrace her father. Her face showed traces of
fatigue. Certainly she had not passed as good a night as her
fatherand the general reproached her for looking so downcast.

It is true. I had dreadful dreams. But you, papa, did you sleep
well? Did you take your narcotic?

No, no, I have not touched a drop of my potion.

Yes, I see. Oh, well, that is all right; that is very good.
Natural sleep must be coming back...

Matrenaas though hypnotized by Rouletabillehad taken the glass
from the table and ostentatiously carried it to the dressing-room
to throw it outand she delayed there to recover her
self-possession.

Natacha continued:

You will see, papa, that you will be able to live just like
everyone else finally. The great thing was to clear away the
police, the atrocious police; wasn't it, Monsieur Rouletabille?

I have always said, for myself, that I am entirely of Mademoiselle
Natacha's mind. You can be entirely reassured now, and I shall
leave you feeling reassured. Yes, I must think of getting my
interviews done quickly, and departing. Ah well, I can only say
what I think. Run things yourselves and you will not run any
danger. Besides, the general gets much better, and soon I shall
see you all in France, I hope. I must thank you now for your
friendly hospitality.

Ah, but you are not going? You are not going!Matrena had
already set herself to protest with all the strenuous torrent of
words in her poor desolated heartwhen a glance from the reporter
cut short her despairing utterances.

I shall have to remain a week still in the city. I have engaged a
chamber at the Hotel de France. It is necessary. I have so many
people to see and to receive. I will come to make you a little
visit from time to time.


You are then quite easy,demanded the general gravelyat leaving
me all alone?

Entirely easy. And, besides, I don't leave you all alone. I leave
you with Madame Trebassof and Mademoiselle. I repeat: All three of
you stay as I see you now. No more police, or, in any case, the
fewest possible.

He is right, he is right,repeated Natacha again.

At this moment there were fresh knocks at the door of Matrena's
chamber. It was Ermolaiwho announced that his Excellency the
Marshal of the CourtCount Keltzofwished to see the general
acting for His Majesty.

Go and receive the Count, Natacha, and tell him that your father
will be downstairs in a moment.

Natacha and Rouletabille went down and found the Count in the
drawing-room. He was a magnificent specimenhandsome and big as
one of the Swiss papal guard. He seemed watchful in all directions
and all among the furnitureand was quite evidently disquieted.
He advanced immediately to meet the young ladyinquiring the news.

It is all good news,replied Natacha. "Everybody here is splendid.
The general is quite gay. But what news have youmonsieur le
marechal? You appear preoccupied."

The marshal had pressed Rouletabille's hand.

And my grapes?he demanded of Natacha.

How, your grapes? What grapes?

If you have not touched them, so much the better. I arrived here
very anxious. I brought you yesterday, from Krasnoie-Coelo, some
of the Emperor's grapes that Feodor Feodorovitch enjoyed so much.
Now this morning I learned that the eldest son of Doucet, the French
head-gardener of the Imperial conservatories at Krasnoie, had died
from eating those grapes, which he had taken from those gathered
for me to bring here. Imagine my dismay. I knew, however, that at
the general's table, grapes would not be eaten without having been
washed, but I reproached myself for not having taken the precaution
of leaving word that Doucet recommend that they be washed thoroughly.
Still, I don't suppose it would matter. I couldn't see how my gift
could be dangerous, but when I learned of little Doucet's death
this morning, I jumped into the first train and came straight here.

But, your Excellency,interrupted Natachawe have not seen your
grapes.

Ah, they have not been served yet? All the better. Thank
goodness!

The Emperor's grapes are diseased, then?interrogated Rouletabille.
Phylloxera pest has got into the conservatories?

Nothing can stop it, Doucet told me. So he didn't want me to leave
last evening until he had washed the grapes. Unfortunately, I was
pressed for time and I took them as they were, without any idea that
the mixture they spray on the grapes to protect them was so deadly.
It appears that in the vineyard country they have such accidents
every year. They call it, I think, the ... the mixture ...


The Bordeaux mixture,was heard in Rouletabille's trembling voice
And do you know what it is, Your Excellency, this Bordeaux mixture?

Why, no.

At this moment the general came down the stairsclinging to the
banister and supported by Matrena Petrovna.

Well,continued Rouletabillewatching Natachathe Bordeaux
mixture which covered the grapes you brought the general yesterday
was nothing more nor less than arsenate of soda.

Ah, God!cried Natacha.

As for Matrena Petrovnashe uttered a low exclamation and let go
the generalwho almost fell down the staircase. Everybody rushed.
The general laughed. Matrenaunder the stringent look of
Rouletabillestammered that she had suddenly felt faint. At last
they were all together in the veranda. The general settled back on
his sofa and inquired:

Well, now, were you just saying something, my dear marshal, about
some grapes you have brought me?

Yes, indeed,said Natachaquite frightenedand what he said
isn't pleasant at all. The son of Doucet, the court gardener, has
just been poisoned by the same grapes that monsieur le marschal,
it appears, brought you.

Where was this? Grapes? What grapes? I haven't seen any grapes!
exclaimed Matrena. "I noticed youyesterdaymarshalout in the
gardenbut you went away almost immediatelyand I certainly was
surprised that you did not come in. What is this story?"

Well, we must clear this matter up. It is absolutely necessary
that we know what happened to those grapes.

Certainly,said Rouletabillethey could cause a catastrophe.

If it has not happened already,fretted the marshal.

But how? Where are they? Whom did you give them to?

I carried them in a white cardboard box, the first one that came
to hand in Doucet's place. I came here the first time and didn't
find you. I returned again with the box, and the general was just
lying down. I was pressed for my train and Michael Nikolaievitch
and Boris Alexandrovitch were in the garden, so I asked them to
execute my commission, and I laid the box down near them on the
little garden table, telling them not to forget to tell you it was
necessary to wash the grapes as Doucet expressly recommended.

But it is unbelievable! It is terrible!quavered Matrena. "Where
can the grapes be? We must know."

Absolutely,approved Rouletabille.

We must ask Boris and Michael,said Natacha. "Good God! surely
they have not eaten them! Perhaps they are sick."

Here they are,said the general. All turned. Michael and Boris
were coming up the steps. Rouletabillewho was in a shadowed
corner under the main staircasedid not lose a single play of


muscle on the two faces which for him were two problems to solve.
Both faces were smiling; too smilingperhaps.

Michael! Boris! Come here,cried Feodor Feodorovitch. "What
have you done with the grapes from monsieur le marechal?"

They both looked at him upon this brusque interrogationseemed not
to understandand thensuddenly recallingthey declared very
naturally that they had left them on the garden table and had not
thought about them.

You forgot my caution, then?said Count Kaltzof severely.

What caution?said Boris. "Ohyesthe washing of the grapes.
Doucet's caution."

Do you know what has happened to Doucet with those grapes? His
eldest son is dead, poisoned. Do you understand now why we are
anxious to know what has become of my grapes?

But they ought to be out there on the table,said Michael.

No one can find them anywhere,declared Matrenawhono less than
Rouletabillewatched every change in the countenances of the two
officers. "How did it happen that you went away yesterday evening
without saying good-byewithout seeing uswithout troubling
yourselves whether or not the general might need you?"

Madame,said Michaelcoldlyin military fashionas though he
replied to his superior officer himselfwe have ample excuse to
offer you and the general. It is necessary that we make an
admission, and the general will pardon us, I am sure. Boris and I,
daring the promenade, happened to quarrel. That quarrel was in full
swing when we reached here and we were discussing the way to end it
most promptly when monsieur le marechal entered the garden. We must
make that our excuse for giving divided attention to what he had to
say. As soon as he was gone we had only one thought, to get away
from here to settle our difference with arms in our hands.

Without speaking to me about it!interrupted Trehassof. "I never
will pardon that."

You fight at such a time, when the general is threatened! It is
as though you fought between yourselves in the face of the enemy.
It is treason!added Matrena.

Madame,said Boriswe did not fight. Someone pointed out our
fault, and I offered my excuses to Michael Nikolaievitch, who
generously accepted them. Is that not so, Michael Nikolaievitch?

And who is this that pointed out your fault?demanded the marshal.

Natacha.

Bravo, Natacha. Come, embrace me, my daughter.

The general pressed his daughter effusively to his broad chest.

And I hope you will not have further disputing,he criedlooking
over Natacha's shoulder.

We promise you that, General,declared Boris. "Our lives belong
to you."


You did well, my love. Let us all do as well. I have passed an
excellent night, messieurs. Real sleep! I have had just one long
sleep.


That is so,said Matrena slowly. "The general had no need of
narcotic. He slept like a child and did not touch his potion."


And my leg is almost well.


All the same, it is singular that those grapes should have
disappeared,insisted the marshalfollowing his fixed idea.


Ermolai,called Matrena.


The old servant appeared.


Yesterday evening, after these gentlemen had left the house, did
you notice a small white box on the garden table?


No, Barinia.


And the servants? Have any of them been sick? The dvornicks?
The schwitzar? In the kitchens? No one sick? No? Go and see; then
come and tell me.


He returnedsayingNo one sick.


Like the marshalMatrena Petrovna and Feodor Feodorovitch looked
at one anotherrepeating in FrenchNo one sick! That is strange!


Rouletabille came forward and gave the only explanation that was
plausible - for the others.


But, General, that is not strange at all. The grapes have been
stolen and eaten by some domestic, and if the servant has not been
sick it is simply that the grapes monsieur le marecha1 brought
escaped the spraying of the Bordeaux mixture. That is the whole
mystery.


The little fellow must be right,cried the delighted marshal.


He is always right, this little fellow,beamed Matrenaas proudly
as though she had brought him into the world.


But "the little fellow taking advantage of the greetings as
Athanase Georgevitch and Ivan Petrovitch arrived, left the villa,
gripping in his pocket the phial which held what is required to make
grapes flourish or to kill a general who is in excellent health.
When he had gone a few hundred steps toward the bridges one must
cross to go into the city, he was overtaken by a panting dvornick,
who brought him a letter that had just come by courier. The writing
on the envelope was entirely unknown to him. He tore it open and
read, in excellent French:


Request to M. Joseph Rouletabille not to mix in matters that do
not concern him. The second warning will be the last." It was
signed: "The Central Revolutionary Committee."


So, ho!said Rouletabilleslipping the paper into his pocket
that's the line it takes, is it! Happily I have nothing more to
occupy myself with at all. It is Koupriane's turn now! Now to go
to Koupriane's!


On this dateRouletabille's note-book: "Natacha to her father:



'But youpapahave you had a good night? Did you take your
narcotic?'

Fearful, and (lest I confuse heaven and hell) I have no right to
take any further notes.*

*As a matter of factafter this day no more notes are found in
Rouletabille's memorandum-book. The last one is that abovebizarre
and romanticand necessaryas Sainclairthe Paris advocate and
friend of Rouletabilleindicates opposite it in the papers from
which we have taken all the details of this story.

THE LITILE CHAPEL OF THE GUARDS

Rouletabille took a long walk which led him to the Troitsky Bridge
thenre-descending the Naberjnaiahe reached the Winter Palace.
He seemed to have chased away all preoccupationand took a child's
pleasure in the different aspects of the life that characterizes
the city of the Great Peter. He stopped before the Winter Palace
walked slowly across the square where the prodigious monolith of
the Alexander Column rises from its bronze socketstrolled between
the palace and the colonnadespassed under an immense arch:
everything seemed Cyclopean to himand he never had felt so tiny
so insignificant. None the less he was happy in his insignificance
he was satisfied with himself in the presence of these colossal
things; everything pleased him this morning. The speed of the
isvosthe bickering humor of the osvotchicksthe elegance of the
womenthe fine presences of the officers and their easy naturalness
under their uniformsso opposed to the wooden posturing of the
Berlin military men whom he had noticed at the "Tilleuls" and in
the Friederichstrasse between two trains. Everything enchanted him

-the costume even of the moujiksvivid blousesthe red shirts
over the trousersthe full legs and the boots up to the knees
even the unfortunates whoin spite of the soft atmospherewere
muffled up in sheepskin coatsall impressed him favorably
everything appeared to him original and congenial.
Order reigned in the city. The guards were politedecorative and
superb in bearing. The passers-by in that quarter talked gayly
among themselvesoften in Frenchand had manners as civilized as
anywhere in the world. Wherethenwas the Bear of the North? He
never had seen bears so well licked. Was it this very city that
only yesterday was in revolution? This was certainly the Alexander
Park where troops a few weeks before had fired on children who had
sought refuge in the treeslike sparrows. Was this the very
pavement where the Cossacks had left so many bodies? Finally he
saw before him the Nevsky Prospectwhere the bullets rained like
hail not long since upon a people dressed for festivities and very
joyous. Nichevo! Nichevo! All that was so soon forgotten. They
forgot yesterday as they forget to-morrow. The Nihilists? Poets
who imagined that a bomb could accomplish anything in that Babylon
of the North more important than the noise of its explosion! Look
at these people who pass. They have no more thought for the old
attack than for those now preparing in the shadow of the "tracktirs."
Happy menfull of serenity in this bright quarterwho move about
their affairs and their pleasures in the purest airthe lightest
the most transparent on earth. Nono; no one knows the joy of


mere breathing if he has not breathed the air therethe finest in
the north of the worldwhich gives food and drink of beautiful
white eau-de-vie and yellow pivoand strikes the blood and makes
one a beast vigorous and joyful and fatalisticand mocks at the
Nihilists andas wellat the ten thousand eyes of the police
staring from under the porches of housesfrom under the skulls of
dvornicks - all policethe dvornicks; all policealso the joyous
concierges with extended hands. Ahahone mocks at it all in
such airprovided one has roubles in one's pocketsplenty of
roublesand that one is not besotted by reading those extraordinary
books that preach the happiness of all humanity to students and to
poor girl-students too. Ahahseed of the Nihilistsall that!
These poor little fellows and poor little girls who have their heads
turned by lectures that they cannot digest! That is all the trouble
the digestion. The digestion is needed. Messieurs the commercial
travelers for champagnewho talk together importantly in the
lobbies of the Grand Morskaia Hotel and who have studied the Russian
people even in the most distant cities where champagne is soldwill
tell you that over any table of hors-d'oeuvresand will regulate
the whole question of the Revolution between two little glasses of
vodkaswallowed properlyquicklyelbow upat a single draught
in the Russian manner. Simply an affair of digestionthey tell
you. Who is the fool that would dare compare a young gentleman who
has well digested a bottle of champagne or twoand another young
man who has poorly digested the lucubrations ofwho shall we say?

-the lucubrations of the economists? The economists? The
economists! Fools who compete which can make the most violent
statements! Those who read them and don't understand them go off
like a bomb! Your health! Nichevo! The world goes round still
doesn't it?
Discussion politicaleconomicrevolutionaryand other in the
room where they munch hors-d'oeuvres! You will hear it all as you
pass through the hotel to your chamberyoung Rouletabille. Get
quickly now to the home of Kouprianeif you don't wish to arrive
there at luncheon-time; then you would have to put off these serious
affairs until evening.

The Department of Police. Massive entranceheavily guardeda
great lobbyhalls with swinging doorsmany obsequious schwitzars
on the lookout for tipsmany poor creatures sitting against the
walls on dirty benchesdesks and clerksbrilliant boots and
epaulets of gay young officers who are telling tales of the Aquarium
with great relish.

Monsieur Rouletabille! Ah, yes. Please be seated. Delighted,

M. Koupriane will be very happy to receive you, but just at this
moment he is at inspection. Yes, the inspection of the police
dormitories in the barracks. We will take you there. His own idea!
He doesn't neglect anything, does he? A great Chief. Have you seen
the police-guards' dormitory? Admirable! The first dormitories of
the world. We say that without wishing to offend France. We love
France. A great nation! I will take you immediately to M.
Koupriane. I shall be delighted.
I also,said Rouletabillewho put a rouble into the honorable
functionary's hand.

Permit me to precede you.

Bows and salutes. For two roubles he would have walked obsequiously
before him to the end of the world.

These functionaries are admirable,thought Rouletabille as he was


led to the barracks. He felt he had not paid too much for the
services of a personage whose uniform was completely covered with
lace. They trampedthey climbedthey descended. Stairways
corridors. Ahthe barracks at last. He seemed to have entered a
convent. Beds very whitevery narrowand images of the Virgin
and saints everywheremonastic neatness and the most absolute
silence. Suddenly an order sounded in the corridor outsideand
the police-guardwho sprang from no one could tell wherestood
to attention at the head of their beds. Koupriane and his aide
appeared. Koupriane looked at everything closelyspoke to each
man in turncalled them by their namesinquired about their
needsand the men stammered repliesnot knowing what to answer
reddening like children. Koupriane observed Rouletabille. He
dismissed his aide with a gesture. The inspection was over. He
drew the young man into a little room just off the dormitory.
Rouletabillefrightenedlooked about him. He found himself in a
chapel. This little chapel completed the effect of the guards'
dormitory. It was all gildeddecorated in marvelous colors
thronged with little ikons that bring happinessandnaturally
with the portrait of the Tsarthe dear Little Father.

You see,said Kouprianesmiling at Rouletabille's amazement
we deny them nothing. We give them their saints right here in
their quarters.Closing the doorhe drew a chair toward
Rouletabille and motioned him to sit down. They sat before the
little altar loaded with flowerswith colored paper and winged
saints.

We can talk here without being disturbed,he said. "Yonder there
is such a crowd of people waiting for me. I'm ready to listen."

Monsieur,said RouletabilleI have come to give you the report
of my mission here, and to terminate my connection with it. All
that is left for clearing this obscure affair is to arrest the
guilty person, with which I have nothing to do. That concerns you.
I simply inform you that someone tried to poison the general last
night by pouring arsenate of soda into his sleeping-potion, which
I bring you in this phial, arsenate which was secured most probably
by washing it from grapes brought to General Trebassof by the
marshal of the court, and which disappeared without anyone being
able to say how.

Ah, ah, a family affair, a plot within the family. I told you
so,murmured Koupriane.

The affair at least has happened within the family, as you think,
although the assassin came from outside. Contrary to what you may
be able to believe, he does not live in the house.

Then how does he get there?demanded Koupriane.

By the window of the room overlooking the Neva. He has often come
that way. And that is the way he returns also, I am sure. It is
there you can take him if you act with prudence.

How do you know he often comes that way?

You know the height of the window above the little roadway. To
reach it he uses a water-trough, whose iron rings are bent, and
also the marks of a grappling-iron that he carries with him and
uses to hoist himself to the window are distinctly visible on the
ironwork of the little balcony outside. The marks are quite
obviously of different dates


But that window is closed.

Someone opens it for him.

Who, if you please?

I have no desire to know.

Eh, yes. It necessarily is Natacha. I was sure that the Villa
des Iles had its viper. I tell you she doesn't dare leave her nest
because she knows she is watched. Not one of her movements outside
escapes us! She knows it. She has been warned. The last time she
ventured outside alone was to go into the old quarters of Derewnia.
What has she to do in such a rotten quarter? I ask you that. And
she turned in her tracks without seeing anyone, without knocking
at a single door, because she saw that she was followed. She isn't
able to get to see them outside, therefore she has to see them
inside.


They are only one, and always the same one.


Are you sure?


An examination of the marks on the wall and on the pipe doesn't
leave any doubt of it, and it is always the same grappling-iron
that is used for the window.


The viper!


Monsieur Koupriane, Mademoiselle Natacha seems to preoccupy you
exceedingly. I did not come here to talk about Mademoiselle
Natacha. I came to point out to you the route used by the man who
comes to do the murder.


Eh, yes, it is she who opens the way.


I can't deny that.


The little demon! Why does she take him into her room at night?
Do you think perhaps there is some love-affair...?


I am sure of quite the opposite.


I too. Natacha is not a wanton. Natacha has no heart. She has
only a brain. And it doesn't take long for a brain touched by
Nihilism to get so it won't hesitate at anything.


Koupriane reflected a minutewhile Rouletabille watched him in
silence.


Have we solely to do with Nihilism?resumed Koupriane.
Everything you tell me inclines me more and more to my idea: a
family affair, purely in the family. You know, don't you, that
upon the general's death Natacha will be immensely rich?


Yes, I know it,replied Rouletabillein a voice that sounded
singular to the ear of the Chief of Police and which made him raise
his head.


What do you know?


I? Nothing,replied the reporterthis time in a firmer tone.
I ought, however, to say this to you: I am sure that we are dealing
with Nihilism...



What makes you believe it?

This.

And Rouletabille handed Koupriane the message he had received that
same morning.

Oh, oh,cried Koupriane. "You are under watch! Look out."

I have nothing to fear; I'm not bothering myself about anything
further. Yes, we have an affair of the revolutionaries, but not of
the usual kind. The way they are going about it isn't like one of
their young men that the Central Committee arms with a bomb and who
is sacrificed in advance.

Where are the tracks that you have traced?

Right up to the little Krestowsky Villa.

Koupriane bounded from his chair.

Occupied by Boris. Parbleu! Now we have them. I see it all now.
Boris, another cracked brain! And he is engaged. If he plays the
part of the Revolutionaries, the affair would work out big for him.

That villa,said Rouletabille quietlyis also occupied by Michael
Korosakoff.

He is the most loyal, the most reliable soldier of the Tsar.

No one is ever sure of anything, my dear Monsieur Koupriane.

Oh, I am sure of a man like that.

No man is ever sure of any man, my dear Monsieur Koupriane.

I am, in every case, for those I employ.

You are wrong.

What do you say?

Sometbing that can serve you in the enterprise you are going to
undertake, because I trust you can catch the murderer right in his
nest. To do that, I'll not conceal from you that I think your
agents will have to be enormously clever. They will have to watch
the datcha des Iles at night, without anyone possibly suspecting it.
No more maroon coats with false astrakhan trimmings, eh? But
Apaches, Apaches on the wartrail, who blend themselves with the
ground, with the trees, with the stones in the roadway. But among
those Apaches don't send that agent of your Secret Service who
watched the window while the assassin climbed to it.

What?

Why, these climbs that you can read the proofs of on the wall and
on the iron forgings of the balcony went on while your agents, night
and day, were watching the villa. Have you noticed, monsieur, that
it was always the same agent who took the post at night, behind the
villa, under the window? General Trebassof's book in which he kept
a statement of the exact disposal of each of your men during the
period of siege was most instructive on that point. The other posts
changed in turn, but the same agent, when he was among the guard,


demanded always that same post, which was not disputed by anybody,
since it is no fun to pass the hours of the night behind a wall, in
an empty field. The others much preferred to roll away the time
watching in the villa or in front of the lodge, where vodka and
Crimean wine, kwass and pivo, kirsch and tchi, never ran short.
That agent's name is Touman.

Touman! Impossible! He is one of the best agents from Kiew. He
was recommended by Gounsovski.

Rouletabille chuckled.

Yes, yes, yes,grumbled the Chief of Police. "Someone always
laughs when his name is mentioned."

Koupriane had turned red. He roseopened the doorgave a long
direction in Russianand returned to his chair.

Now,said hego ahead and tell me all the details of the poison
and the grapes the marshal of the court brought. I'm listening.

Rouletabille told him very briefly and without drawing any deductions
all that we already know. He ended his account as a man dressed in
a maroon coat with false astrakhan was introduced. It was the same
man Rouletabille had met in General Trebassof's drawing-room and who
spoke French. Two gendarmes were behind him. The door had been
closed. Koupriane turned toward the man in the coat.

Touman,he saidI want to talk to you. You are a traitor, and
I have proof. You can confess to me, and I will give you a thousand
roubles and you can take yourself off to be hanged somewhere else.

The man's eyes shrankbut he recovered himself quickly. He replied
in Russian.

Speak French. I order it,commanded Koupriane.

I answer, Your Excellency,said Touman firmly that I don't
know what Your Excellency means.

I mean that you have helped a man get into the Trebassof villa by
night when you were on guard under the window of the little
sitting-room. You see that there is no use deceiving us any longer.
I play with you frankly, good play, good money. The name of that
man, and you have a thousand roubles.

I am ready to swear on the ikon of...

Don't perjure yourself.

I have always loyally served...

The name of that man.

I still don't know yet what Your Excellency means.

Oh, you understand me,replied Kouprianewho visibly held in an
anger that threatened to break forth any moment. "A man got into
the house while you were watching..."

I never saw anything. After all, it is possible. There were some
very dark nights. I went back and forth.

You are not a fool. The name of that man.


I assure you, Excellency...

Strip him.

What are you going to do?cried Rouletabille.

But already the two guards had thrown themselves on Touman and had
drawn off his coat and shirt. The man was bare to the waist.

What are you going to do? What are you going to do?

Leave them alone,said Kouprianeroughly pushing Rouletabille
back.

Seizing a whip which hung at the waist of the guards he struck
Touman a blow across the shoulders that drew blood. Toumanmad
with the outrage and the painshoutedYes, it is true! I brag
of it!

Koupriane did not restrain his rage. He showered the unhappy man
with blowshaving thrown Rouletabille to the end of the room when
he tried to interfere. And while he proceeded with the punishment
the Chief of Police hurled at the agent who had betrayed him an
accompaniment of fearful threatspromising him that before he was
hanged he should rot in the bottom-most dungeon of Peter and Paul
in the slimy pits lying under the Neva. Toumanbetween the two
guards who held himand who sometimes received blows on the rebound
that were not intended for themnever uttered a complaint. Outside
the invectives of Koupriane there was heard only the swish of the
cords and the cries of Rouletabillewho continued to protest that
it was abominableand called the Chief of Police a savage. Finally
the savage stopped. Gouts of blood had spattered all about.

Monsieur,said Rouletabillewho supported himself against the
wall. "I shall complain to the Tsar."

You are right,Koupriane repliedbut I feel relieved now. You
can't imagine the harm this man can have done to us in the weeks
he has been here.

Toumanacross whose shoulders they had thrown his coat and who
lay now across a chairfound strength to look up and say:

It is true. You can't do me as much harm as I have done you,
whether you think so or not. All the harm that can be done me
by you and yours is already accomplished. My name is not Touman,
but Matiev. Listen. I had a son that was the light of my eyes.
Neither my son nor I had ever been concerned with politics. I was
employed in Moscow. My son was a student. During the Red Week we
went out, my son and I, to see a little of what was happening over
in the Presnia quarter. They said everybody had been killed over
there! We passed before the Presnia gate. Soldiers called to us
to stop because they wished to search us. We opened our coats.
The soldiers saw my son's student waistcoat and set up a cry. They
unbuttoned the vest, drew a note-book out of his pocket and they
found a workman's song in it that had been published in the Signal.
The soldiers didn't know how to read. They believed the paper was
a proclamation, and they arrested my son. I demanded to be arrested
with him. They pushed me away. I ran to the governor's house.
Trebassof had me thrust away from his door with blows from the
butt-ends of his Cossacks' guns. And, as I persisted, they kept me
locked up all that night and the morning of the next day. At noon
I was set free. I demanded my son and they replied they didn't know


what I was talking about. But a soldier that I recognized as having
arrested my son the evening before pointed out a van that was passing,
covered with a tarpaulin and surrounded by Cossacks. 'Your son is
there,' he said; 'they are taking him to the graves.' Mad with
despair, I ran after the van. It went to the outskirts of
Golountrine cemetery. There I saw in the white snow a huge grave,
wide, deep. I shall see it to my last minute. Two vans had already
stopped near the hole. Each van held thirteen corpses. The vans
were dumped into the trench and the soldiers commenced to sort the
bodies into rows of six. I watched for my son. At last I recognized
him in a body that half hung over the edge of the trench. Horrors
of suffering were stamped in the expression of his face. I threw
myself beside him. I said that I was his father. They let me
embrace him a last time and count his wounds. He had fourteen.
Someone had stolen the gold chain that had hung about his neck and
held the picture of his mother, who died the year before. I
whispered into his ear, I swore to avenge him. Forty-eight hours
later I had placed myself at the disposition of the Revolutionary
Committee. A week had not passed before Touman, whom, it seems,
I resemble and who was one of the Secret Service agents in Kiew,
was assassinated in the train that was taking him to St. Petersburg.
The assassination was kept a secret. I received all his papers and
I took his place with you. I was doomed beforehand and I asked
nothing better, so long as I might last until after the execution
of Trebassof. Ah, how I longed to kill him with my own hands! But
another had already been assigned the duty and my role was to help
him. And do you suppose I am going to tell you the name of that
other? Never! And if you discover that other, as you have
discovered me, another will come, and another, and another, until
Trebassof has paid for his crimes. That is all I have to say to
you, Koupriane. As for you, my little fellow,added heturning
to RouletabilleI wouldn't give much for your bones. Neither of
you will last long. That is my consolation.

Koupriane had not interrupted the man. He looked at him in silence
sadly.

You know, my poor man, you will be hanged now?he said.

No,growled Rouletabille. "Monsieur KouprianeI'll bet you my
purse that he will not be hanged."

And why not?demanded the Chief of rolicewhileupon a sign
from himthey took away the false Touman.

Because it is I who denounced him.

What a reason! And what would you like me to do?

Guard him for me; for me alone, do you understand?

In exchange for what?

In exchange for the life of General Trebassof, if I must put it
that way.

Eh? The life of General Trebassof! You speak as if it belonged
to you, as if you could dispose of it.

Rouletabille laid his hand on Koupriane's arm.

Perhaps that's so,said he.

Would you like me to tell you one thing, Monsieur Rouletabille?


It is that General Trebassof's life, after what has just escaped
the lips of this Touman, who is not Touman, isn't worth any more
than - than yours if you remain here. Since you are disposed not
to do anything more in this affair, take the train, monsieur, take
the train, and go.

Rouletabille walked back and forthvery much worked up; then
suddenly he stopped short.

Impossible,he said. "It is impossible. I cannot; I am not able
to go yet."

Why?

Good God, Monsieur Koupriane, because I have to interview the
President of the Duma yet, and complete my little inquiry into the
politics of the cadets.

Oh, indeed!

Koupriane looked at him with a sour grin.

What are you going to do with that man?demanded Rouletabille.

Have him fixed up first.

And then?

Then take him before the judges.

That is to say, to the gallows?

Certainly.

Monsieur Koupriane, I offer it to you again. Life for life. Give
me the life of that poor devil and I promise you General Trebassof's.

Explain yourself.

Not at all. Do you promise me that you will maintain silence
about the case of that man and that you will not touch a hair of
his head?

Koupriane looked at Rouletabille as he had looked at him during the
altercation they had on the edge of the Gulf. He decided the same
way this time.

Very well,said he. "You have my word. The poor devil!"

You are a brave man, Monsieur Koupriane, but a little quick with
the whip...

What would you expect? One's work teaches that.

Good morning. No, don't trouble to show me out. I am compromised
enough already,said Rouletabillelaughing.

Au revoir, and good luck! Get to work interviewing the President
of the Duma,added Koupriane knowinglywith a great laugh.

But Rouletabille was already gone.

That lad,said the Chief of Police aloud to himselfhasn't told
me a bit of what he knows.


ANNOUCHKA

And now it's between us two, Natacha,murmured Rouletabille as
soon as he was outside. He hailed the first carriage that passed
and gave the address of the datcha des Iles. When he got in he
held his head between his hands; his face burnedhis jaws were set.
But by a prodigious effort of his will he resumed almost instantly
his calmhis self-control. As he went back across the Nevaacross
the bridge where he had felt so elated a little while beforeand
saw the isles again he sighed heavily. "I thought I had got it all
over withso far as I was concernedand now I don't know where it
will stop." His eyes grew dark for a moment with somber thoughts
and the vision of the Lady in Black rose before him; then he shook
his headfilled his pipelighted itdried a tear that had been
caused doubtless by a little smoke in his eyeand stopped
sentimentalizing. A quarter of an hour later he gave a true Russian
nobleman's fist-blow in the back to the coachman as an intimation
that they had reached the Trebassof villa. A charming picture was
before him. They were all lunching gayly in the gardenaround the
table in the summer-house. He was astonishedhoweverat not
seeing Natacha with them. Boris Mourazoff and Michael Korsakoff
were there. Rouletabille did not wish to be seen. He made a sign
to Ermolaiwho was passing through the garden and who hurried to
meet him at the gate.

The Barinia,said the reporterin a low voice and with his finger
to his lips to warn the faithful attendant to caution.

In two minutes Matrena Petrovna joined Rouletabille in the lodge.

Well, where is Natacha?he demanded hurriedly as she kissed his
hands quite as though she had made an idol of him.

She has gone away. Yes, out. Oh, I did not keep her. I did not
try to hold her back. Her expression frightened me, you can
understand, my little angel. My, you are impatient! What is it
about? How do we stand? What have you decided? I am your slave.
Command me. Command me. The keys of the villa?

Yes, give me a key to the veranda; you must have several. I must
be able to get into the house to-night if it becomes necessary.

She drew a key from her gowngave it to the young man and said a
few words in Russian to Ermolaito enforce upon him that he must
obey the little domovoi-doukh in anythingday or night.

Now tell me where Natacha has gone.

Boris's parents came to see us a little while ago, to inquire after
the general. They have taken Natacha away with them, as they often
have done. Natacha went with them readily enough. Little domovoi,
listen to me, listen to Matrena Petrovna -Anyone would have said
she was expecting it!

Then she has gone to lunch at their house?

Doubtless, unless they have gone to a cafe. I don't know. Boris's


father likes to have the family lunch at the Barque when it is fine.
Calm yourself, little domovoi. What ails you? Bad news, eh? Any
bad news?

No, no; everything is all right. Quick, the address of Boris's
family.

The house at the corner of La Place St. Isaac and la rue de la
Poste.

Good. Thank you. Adieu.

He started for the Place St. Isaacand picked up an interpreter at
the Grand Morskaia Hotel on the way. It might be useful to have him.
At the Place St. Isaac he learned the Morazoffs and Natacha Trebassof
had gone by train for luncheon at Bergaloweone of the nearby
stations in Finland.

That is all,said heand added apart to himselfAnd perhaps that
is not true.

He paid the coachman and the interpreterand lunched at the
Brasserie de Vienne nearby. He left there a half-hour latermuch
calmer. He took his way to the Grand Morskaia Hotelwent inside
and asked the schwitzar:

Can you give me the address of Mademoiselle Annouchka?

The singer of the Krestowsky?

That is who I mean.

She had luncheon here. She has just gone away with the prince.

Without any curiosity as to which princeRouletabille cursed his
luck and again asked for her address.

Why, she lives in an apartment just across the way.

Rouletabillefeeling bettercrossed the streetfollowed by the
interpreter that he had engaged. Across the way he learned on the
landing of the first floor that Mademoiselle Annouchka was away for
the day. He descendedstill followed by his interpreterand
recalling how someone had told him that in Russia it was always
profitable to be generoushe gave five roubles to the interpreter
and asked him for some information about Mademoiselle Annouchka's
life in St. Petersburg. The interpreter whispered:

She arrived a week ago, but has not spent a single night in her
apartment over there.

He pointed to the house they had just left, and added:

Merely her address for the police."

Yes, yes,said RouletabilleI understand. She sings this
evening, doesn't she?

Monsieur, it will be a wonderful debut.

Yes, yes, I know. Thanks.

All these frustrations in the things he had undertaken that day
instead of disheartening him plunged him deep into hard thinking.


He returnedhis hands in his pocketswhistling softlyto the
Place St. Isaacwalked around the churchkeeping an eye on the
house at the cornerinvestigated the monumentwent inside
examined all its detailscame out marvelingand finally went once
again to the residence of the Mourazoffswas told that they had
not yet returned from the Finland townthen went and shut himself
in his room at the hotelwhere he smoked a dozen pipes of tobacco.
He emerged from his cloud of smoke at dinner-time.

At ten that evening he stepped out of his carriage before the
Krestowsky. The establishment of Krestowskywhich looms among the
Isles much as the Aquarium doesis neither a theaternor a
music-hallnor a cafe-concertnor a restaurantnor a public
garden; it is all of these and some other things besides. Summer
theaterwinter theateropen-air theaterhall for spectacles
scenic mountainexercise-grounddiversions of all sortsgarden
promenadescafesrestaurantsprivate dining-roomseverything is
combined here that can amusecharmlead to the wildest orgiesor
provide those who never think of sleep till toward three or four
o'clock of a morning the means to await the dawn with patience. The
most celebrated companies of the old and the new world play there
amid an enthusiasm that is steadily maintained by the foresight of
the managers: Russian and foreign dancersand above all the French
chanteusesthe little dolls of the cafes-concertsso long as they
are youngbrightand elegantly dressedmay meet their fortune
there. If there is no such luckthey are sure at least to find
every evening some old beauand often some officerwho willingly
pays twenty-five roubles for the sole pleasure of having a demoiselle
born on the banks of the Seine for his companion at the supper-table.
After their turn at the singingthese women display their graces and
their eager smiles in the promenades of the garden or among the
tables where the champagne-drinkers sit. The head-linersnaturally
are not driven to this wearying perambulationbut can go away to
their rest if they are so inclined. Howeverthe management is
appreciative if they accept the invitation of some dignitary of the
armyof administrationor of financewho seeks the 

honor of
hearing from the chanteusein a private room and with a company of
friends not disposed to melancholythe Bohemian songs of the Vieux
Derevnia. They singthey lollthey talk of Parisand above all
they drink. If sometimes the little fete ends rather roughlyit
is the friendly and affectionate champagne that is to blamebut
usually the orgies remain quite innocentof a character that
certainly might trouble the temperance societies but need not make

M. le Senateur Berenger feel involved.
A war whose powder fumes reeked stilla revolution whose last
defeated growls had not died away at the period of these events
had not at all diminished the nightly gayeties of Kretowsky. Many
of the young men who displayed their uniforms that evening and
called their "Nichevo" along the brilliantly lighted paths of the
public gardensor filled the open-air tablesor drank vodka at
the buffetsor admired the figures of the wandering soubrettes
had come here on the eve of their departure for the war and had
returned with the same child-likeenchanted smilethe same ideal
of futile joyand kissed their passing comrades as gayly as ever.
Some of them had a sleeve lying limp nowor walked with a crutch
or even on a wooden legbut it wasall the sameNichevo!

The crowd this evening was denser than ordinarilybecause there
was the chance to hear Annouchka again for the first time since the
somber days of Moscow. The students were ready to give her an
ovationand no one opposed itbecauseafter allif she sang now
it was because the police were willing at last. If the Tsar's
government had granted her her lifeit was not in order to compel


her to die of hunger. Each earned a livelihood as was possible.
Annouchka only knew how to sing and danceand so she must sing
and dance!

When Rouletabille entered the Krestowsky GardensAnnouchka had
commenced her numberwhich ended with a tremendous "Roussalka."
Surrounded by a chorus of male and female dancers in the national
dress and with red bootsstriking tambourines with their fingers
then suddenly taking a rigid pose to let the young woman's voice
which was of rather ordinary registercome outAnnouchka had
centered the attention of the immense audience upon herself. All
the other parts of the establishment were desertedthe tables had
been removedand a panting crowd pressed about the open-air theater.
Rouletabille stood up on his chair at the moment tumultuous "Bravos"
sounded from a group of students. Annouchka bowed toward them
seeming to ignore the rest of the audiencewhich had not dared
declare itself yet. She sang the old peasant songs arranged to
present-day tasteand interspersed them with dances. They had an
enormous successbecause she gave her whole soul to them and sang
with her voice sometimes caressingsometimes menacingand
sometimes magnificently desperategiving much significance to
words which on paper had not aroused the suspicions of the censor.
The taste of the day was obviously still a taste for the revolution
which retained its influence on the banks of the Neva. What she
was doing was certainly very boldand apparently she realized how
audacious she wasbecausewith great adroitnessshe would bring
out immediately after some dangerous phrase a patriotic couplet
which everybody was anxious to applaud. She succeeded by such means
in appealing to all the divergent groups of her audience and secured
a complete triumph for herself. The studentsthe revolutionaries
the radicals and the cadets acclaimed the singerglorifying not
only her art but also and beyond everything else the sister of the
engineer Volkouskywho had been doomed to perish with her brother
by the bullets of the Semenovsky regiment. The friends of the
Court on their side could not forget that it was she whoin front
of the Kremlinhad struck aside the arm of Constantin Kochkarof
ordered by the Central Revolutionary Committee to assassinate the
Grand Duke Peter Alexandrovitch as he drove up to the governor's
house in his sleigh. The bomb burst ten feet awaykilling
Constantin Kochkarof himself. It may be that before death came he
had time to hear Annouchka cry to himWretch! You were told to
kill the prince, not to assassinate his children.As it happened
Peter Alexandrovitch held on his knees the two little princesses
seven and eight years old. The Court had wished to recompense her
for that heroic act. Annouchka had spit at the envoy of the Chief
of Police who called to speak to her of money. At the Hermitage in
Moscowwhere she sang thensome of her admirers had warned her of
possible reprisals on the part of the revolutionaries. But the
revolutionaries gave her assurance at once that she had nothing to
fear. They approved her act and let her know that they now counted
on her to kill the Grand Duke some time when he was alone; which
had made Annouchka laugh. She was an enfant terriblewhose friends
no one knewwho passed for very wiseand whose lines of intrigue
were inscrutable. She enjoyed making her hosts in the private
supper-rooms quake over their meal. One day she had said bluntly
to one of the most powerful tchinovnicks of Moscow: "Youmy old
friendyou are president of the Black Hundred. Your fate is sealed.
Yesterday you were condemned to death by the delegates of the Central
Committee at Presnia. Say your prayers." The man reached for
champagne. He never finished his glass. The dvornicks carried him
out stricken with apoplexy. Since the time she saved the little
grand-duchesses the police had orders to allow her to act and talk
as she pleased. She had been mixed up in the deepest plots against
the government. Those who lent the slightest countenance to such


plottings and were not of the police simply disappeared. Their
friends dared not even ask for news of them. The only thing not in
doubt about them was that they were at hard labor somewhere in the
mines of the Ural Mountains. At the moment of the revolution
Annouchka had a brother who was an engineer on the Kasan-Moscow line.
This Volkousky was one of the leaders on the Strike Committee. The
authorities had an eye on him. The revolution started. Hewith
the help of his sisteraccomplished one of those formidable acts
which will carry their memory as heroes to the farthest posterity.
Their work accomplishedthey were taken by Trebassof's soldiers.
Both were condemned to death. Volkousky was executed firstand
the sister was taking her turn when an officer of the government
arrived on horseback to stop the firing. The Tsarinformed of her
intended fatehad sent a pardon by telegraph. After that she
disappeared. She was supposed to have gone on some tour across
Europeas was her habitfor she spoke all the languageslike a
true Bohemian. Now she had reappeared in all her joyous glory at
Krestowsky. It was certainhoweverthat she had not forgotten her
brother. Gossips said that if the government and the police showed
themselves so long-enduring they found it to their interest to do
so. The openapparent life Annouclika led was less troublesome to
them than her hidden activities would be. The lesser police who
surrounded the Chief of the St. retersburg Secret Servicethe
famous Gounsovskihad meaning smiles when the matter was discussed.
Among them Annouchka had the ignoble nicknameStool-pigeon.

Rouletabille must have been well aware of all these particulars
concerning Annoucbkafor he betrayed no astonishment at the great
interest and the strong emotion she aroused. From the corner
where he was he could see only a bit of the stageand he was
standing on tiptoes to see the singer when he felt his coat pulled.
He turned. It was the jolly advocatewell known for his gastronomic
featsAthanase Georgevitchalong with the jolly Imperial councilor
Ivan Petrovitchwho motioned him to climb down.

Come with us; we have a box.

Rouletabille did not need urgingand he was soon installed in the
front of a box where he could see the stage and the public both.
Just then the curtain fell on the first part of Annouchka's
performance. The friends were soon rejoined by Thaddeus
Tchitchnikoffthe great timber-merchantwho came from behind the
scenes.

I have been to see the beautiful Onoto,announced the Lithuanian
with a great satisfied laugh. "Tell me the news. All the girls
are sulking over Annouchka's success."

Who dragged you into the Onoto's dressing-room then? demanded
Athanase.

OhGounsovski himselfmy dear. He is very amateurishyou know."

What! do you knock around with Gounsovski?

On my word, I tell you, dear friends, he isn't a bad acquaintance.
He did me a little service at Bakou last year. A good acquaintance
in these times of public trouble.

You are in the oil business now, are you?

Oh, yes, a little of everything for a livelihood. I have a little
well down Bakou way, nothing big; and a little house, a very small
one for my small business.


What a monopolist Thaddeus is,declared Athanase Georgevitch
hitting him a formidable slap on the thigh with his enormous hand.
Gounsovski has come himself to keep an eye on Annouchka's debut,
eh? Only he goes into Onoto's dressing-room, the rogue.

Oh, he doesn't trouble himself. Do you know who he is to have
supper with? With Annouchka, my dears, and we are invited.

How's that?inquired the jovial councilor.

It seems Gounsovski influenced the minister to permit Annouchka's
performance by declaring he would be responsible for it all. He
required from Annouchka solely that she have supper with him on the
evening of her debut.

And Annouchka consented?

That was the condition, it seems. For that matter, they say that
Annouchka and Gounsovski don't. get along so badly together.
Gounsovski has done Annouchka many a good turn. They say he is in
love with her.

He has the air of an umbrella merchant,snorted Athanase
Georgevitch.

Have you seen him at close range?inquired Ivan.

I have dined at his house, though it is nothing to boast of, on
my word.

That is what he said,replied Thaddeus. "When he knew we were
here togetherhe said to me: 'Bring himhe is a charming fellow
who plies a great fork; and bring that dear man Ivan Petrovitch
and all your friends.'"

Oh, I only dined at his house,grumbled Athanasebecause there
was a favor he was going to do me.

He does services for everybody, that man,observed Ivan Petrovitch.

Of course, of course; he ought to,retorted Athanase. "What is
a chief of Secret Service for if not to do things for everybody?
For everybodymy dear friendsand a little for himself besides.
A chief of Secret Service has to be in with everybodywith
everybody and his fatheras La Fontaine says (if you know that
author)if he wants to hold his place. You know what I mean."

Athanase laughed loudlyglad of the chance to show how French he
could be in his allusionsand looked at Rouletabille to see if he
had been able to catch the tone of the conversation; but Rouletabille
was too much occupied in watching a profile wrapped in a mantilla
of black lacein the Spanish fashionto repay Athanase's
performance with a knowing smile.

You certainly have naive notions. You think a chief of Secret
Police should be an ogre,replied the advocate as he nodded here
and there to his friends.

Why, certainly not. He needs to be a sheep in a place like that,
a thorough sheep. Gounsovski is soft as a sheep. The time I dined
with him he had mutton streaked with fat. He is just like that. I
am sure he is mainly layers of fat. When you shake hands you feel
as though you had grabbed a piece of fat. My word! And when he


eats he wags his jaw fattishly. His head is like that, too; bald,
you know, with a cranium like fresh lard. He speaks softly and looks
at you like a kid looking to its mother for a juicy meal.

But - why - it is Natacha!murmured the lips of the young man.

Certainly it is Natacha, Natacha herself,exclaimed Ivan
Petrovitchwho had used his glasses the better to see whom the
young French journalist was looking at. "Ahthe dear child!
she has wanted to see Annouchka for a long time."

What, Natacha! So it is. So it is. Natacha! Natacha!said the
others. "And with Boris Mourazoff's parents."

But Boris is not there,sniggered Thaddeus Tehitchnikoff.

Oh, he can't be far away. If he was there we would see Michael
Korsakoff too. They keep close on each other's heels.

How has she happened to leave the general? She said she couldn't
bear to be away from him.

Except to see Annouchka,replied Ivan. "She wanted to see her
and talked so about it when I was there that even Feodor Feodorovitch
was rather scandalized at her and Matrena Petrovna reproved her
downright rudely. But what a girl wishes the gods bring about.
That's the way."

That's so, I know,put in Athanase. "Ivan Petrovitch is right.
Natacha hasn't been able to hold herself in since she read that
Annouchka was going to make her debut at Krestowsky. She said
she wasn't going to die without having seen the great artist."

Her father had almost drawn her away from that crowd,affirmed
Ivanand that was as it should be. She must have fixed up this
affair with Boris and his parents.

Yes, Feodor certainly isn't aware that his daughter's idea was to
applaud the heroine of Kasan station. She is certainly made of
stern stuff, my word,said Athanase.

Natacha, you must remember, is a student,said Thaddeusshaking
his head; "a true student. They have misfortunes like that now in
so many families. I recallapropos of what Ivan said just now
how today she asked Michael Korsakoffbefore meto let her know
where Annouchka would sing. More yetshe said she wished to speak
to that artist if it were possible. Michael frowned on that idea
even before me. But Michael couldn't refuse herany more than the
others. He can reach Annouchka easier than anyone else. You
remember it was he who rode hard and arrived in time with the pardon
for that beautiful witch; she ought not to forget him if she cared
for her life."

Anyone who knows Michael Nikolaievitch knows that he did his duty
promptly,announced Athanase Georgevitch crisply. "But he would
not have gone a step further to save Annouchka. Even now he won't
compromise his career by being seen at the home of a woman who is
never from under the eyes of Gounsovski's agents and who hasn't been
nicknamed 'Stool-pigeon' for nothing."

Then why do we go to supper tonight with Annouchka?asked Ivan.

That's not the same thing. We are invited by Gounsovski himself.
Don't forget that, if stories concerning it drift about some day,


my friends,said Thaddeus.

For that matter, Thaddeus, I accept the invitation of the honorable
chief of our admirable Secret Service because I don't wish to slight
him. I have dined at his house already. By sitting opposite him at
a public table here I feel that I return that politeness. What do
you say to that?

Since you have dined with him, tell us what kind of a man he is
aside from his fattish qualities,said the curious councilor.
So many things are said about him. He certainly seems to be a man
it is better to stand in with than to fall out with, so I accept
his invitation. How could you manage to refuse it, anyway?

When he first offered me hospitality,explained the advocateI
didn't even know him. I never had been near him. One day a police
agent came and invited me to dinner by command - or, at least, I
understood it wasn't wise to refuse the invitation, as you said,
Ivan Petrovitch. When I went to his house I thought I was entering
a fortress, and inside I thought it must be an umbrella shop. There
were umbrellas everywhere, and goloshes. True, it was a day of
pouring rain. I was struck by there being no guard with a big
revolver in the antechamber. He had a little, timid schwitzar
there, who took my umbrella, murmuring 'barine' and bowing over and
over again. He conducted me through very ordinary rooms quite
unguarded to an average sitting-room of a common kind. We dined
with Madame Gounsovski, who appeared fattish like her husband, and
three or four men whom I had never seen anywhere. One servant
waited on us. My word!

At dessert Gounsovski took me aside and told me I was unwise to
'argue that way.' I asked him what he meant by that. He took my
hands between his fat hands and repeated'Nonoit is not wise
to argue like that.' I couldn't draw anything else out of him.
For that matterI understood himandyou knowsince that day
I have cut out certain side passages unnecessary in my general
law pleadings that had been giving me a reputation for rather too
free opinions in the papers. None of that at my age! Ahthe
great Gounsovski! Over our coffee I asked him if he didn't find
the country in pretty strenuous times. He replied that he looked
forward with impatience to the month of Maywhen he could go for
a rest to a little property with a small garden that he had bought
at Asnieresnear Paris. When he spoke of their house in the
country Madame Gounsovski heaved a sigh of longing for those simple
country joys. The month of May brought tears to her eyes. Husband
and wife looked at one another with real tenderness. They had not
the air of thinking for one second: to-morrow or the day after
before our country happiness comeswe may find ourselves stripped
of everything. No! They were sure of their happy vacation and
nothing seemed able to disquiet them under their fat. Gounsovski
has done everybody so many services that no one really wishes him
illpoor man. Besideshave you noticedmy dear old friendsthat
no one ever tries to work harm to chiefs of Secret Police? One goes
after heads of policeprefects of policeministersgrand-dukes
and even higherbut the chiefs of Secret Police are nevernever
attacked. They can promenade tranquilly in the streets or in the
gardens of Krestowsky or breathe the pure air of the Finland country
or even the country around Paris. They have done so many little
favors for this one and thathere and therethat no one wishes to
do them the least injury. Each person always thinkstoothat
others have been less well served than he. That is the secret of
the thingmy friendsthat is the secret. What do you say?"

The others said: "Ahahthe good Gounsovski. He knows. He knows.


Certainlyaccept his supper. With Annouchka it will be fun."

Messieurs,asked Rouletabillewho continued to make discoveries
in the audiencedo you know that officer who is seated at the end
of a row down there in the orchestra seats? See, he is getting up.

He? Why, that is Prince Galitch, who was one of the richest lords
of the North Country. Now he is practically ruined.

Thanks, gentlemen; certainly it is he. I know him,said
Rouletabilleseating himself and mastering his emotion.

They say he is a great admirer of Annouchka,hazarded Thaddeus.
Then he walked away from the box.

The prince has been ruined by women,said Athanase Georgevitch
who pretended to know the entire chronicle of gallantries in the
empire.

He also has been on good terms with Gounsovski,continued Thaddeus.

He passes at court, though, for an unreliable. He once made a
long visit to Tolstoi.

Bah! Gounsovski must have rendered some signal service to that
imprudent prince,concluded Athanase. "But for yourselfThaddeus
you haven't said what you did with Gounsovski at Bakou."

(Rouletabille did not lose a word of what was being said around him
although he never lost sight of the profile hidden in the black
mantle nor of Prince Galitchhis personal enemy* who reappeared
it seemed to himat a very critical moment.)

* as told in "The Lady In Black."
I was returning from Balakani in a drojki,said Thaddeus
Tchitchnikoffand I was drawing near Bakou after having seen the
debris of my oil shafts that had been burned by the Tartars, when
I met Gounsovski in the road, who, with two of his friends, found
themselves badly off with one of the wheels of their carriage broken.
I stopped. He explained to me that he had a Tartar coachman, and
that this coachman having seen an Armenian on the road before him,
could find nothing better to do than run full tilt into the
Armenian's equipage. He had reached over and taken the reins from
him, but a wheel of the carriage was broken.(Rouletabille quivered
because he caught a glance of communication between Prince Galitch
and Natachawho was leaning over the edge of her box.) "So I
offered to take Gounsovski and his friends into my carriageand
we rode all together to Bakou after Gounsovskiwho always wishes
to do a serviceas Athanase Georgevitch sayshad warned his Tartar
coachman not to finish the Armenian." (Prince Galitchat the
moment the orchestra commenced the introductory music for
Annouchka's new numbertook advantage of all eyes being turned
toward the rising curtain to pass near Natacha's seat. This time
he did not look at Natachabut Rouletabille was sure that his lips
had moved as he went by her.)

Thaddeus continued: "It is necessary to explain that at Bakou my
little house is one of the first before you reach the quay. I had
some Armenian employees there. When arrivedwhat do you suppose
I saw? A file of soldiers with cannonyeswith a cannonon my
wordturned against my house and an officer saying quietly'there


it is. Fire!'" (Rouletabille made yet another discovery - two
three discoveries. Near bystanding back of Natacha's seatwas
a figure not unknown to the young reporterand therein one of
the orchestra chairswere two other men whose faces he had seen
that same morning in Koupriane's barracks. Here was where a memory
for faces stood him in good stead. He saw that he was not the only
person keeping close watch on Natacha.) "When I heard what the
officer said Thaddeus went on, I nearly dropped out of the
drojki. I hurried to the police commissioner. He explained the
affair promptlyand I was quick to understand. During my absence
one of my Armenian employees had fired at a Tartar who was passing.
For that matterhe had killed him. The governor was informed and
had ordered the house to be bombardedfor an exampleas had been
done with several others. I found Gounsovski and told him the
trouble in two words. He said it wasn't necessary for him to
interfere in the affairthat I had only to talk to the officer.
'Give him a good presenta hundred roublesand he will leave your
house. I went back to the officer and took him aside; he said he
wanted to do anything that he could for mebut that the order was
positive to bombard the house. I reported his answer to Gounsovski
who told me: 'Tell him then to turn the muzzle of the cannon the
other way and bombard the building of the chemist across the way
then he can always say that he mistook which house was intended.'
I did thatand he had them turn the cannon. They bombarded the
chemist's placeand I got out of the whole thing for the hundred
roubles. Gounsovskithe good fellowmay be a great lump of fat
and be like an umbrella merchantbut I have always been grateful
to him from the bottom of my heartyou can understandAthanase
Georgevitch."

What reputation has Prince Galitch at the court?inquired
Rouletabille all at once.

Oh, oh!laughed the others. "Since he went so openly to visit
Tolstoi he doesn't go to the court any more."

And - his opinions? What are his opinions?

Oh, the opinions of everybody are so mixed nowadays, nobody knows.

Ivan Petrovitch saidHe passes among some people as very advanced
and very much compromised.

Yet they don't bother him?inquired Rouletabille.

Poohpooh replied the gay Councilor of Empire, it is rather he
who tries to mix with them."

Thaddeus stooped down and saidThey say that he can't be reached
because of the hold he has over a certain great personage in the
court, and it would be a scandal - a great scandal.

Be quiet, Thaddeus,interrupted Athanase Georgevitchroughly.
It is easy to see that you are lately from the provinces to speak
so recklessly, but if you go on this way I shall leave.

Athanase Georgevitch is right; hang onto your mouth, Thaddeus,
counseled Ivan Petrovitch.

The talkers all grew silentfor the curtain was rising. In the
audience there were mysterious allusions being made to this second
number of Annouchkabut no one seemed able to say what it was to
beand it wasas a matter of factvery simple. After the
whirl-wind of dances and choruses and all the splendor with which


she had been accompanied the first timeAnnouchka appeared as a
poor Russian peasant in a scene representing the barren steppes
and very simply she sank to her knees and recited her evening prayers.
Annouchka was singularly beautiful. Her aquiline nose with sensitive
nostrilsthe clean-cut outline of her eyebrowsher look that now
was almost tendernow menacingalways unusualher pale rounded
cheeks and the entire expression of her face showed clearly the
strength of new ideasspontaneitydeep resolution andabove all
passion. The prayer was passionate. She had an admirable contralto
voice which affected the audience strangely from its very first
notes. She asked God for daily bread for everyone in the immense
Russian landdaily bread for the flesh and for the spiritand she
stirred the tears of everyone thereto which-ever party they
belonged. And whenas her last note sped across the desolate
steppe and she rose and walked toward the miserable hutfrantic
bravos from a delirious audience told her the prodigious emotions
she had aroused. Little Rouletabillewhonot understanding the
wordsnevertheless caught the spirit of that prayerwept.
Everybody wept. Ivan PetrovitcbAtbanase GeorgevitchThaddeus
Tchitchnikoff were standing upstamping their feet and clapping
their hands like enthusiastic boys. The studentswho could be
easily distinguished by the uniform green edging they wore on their
coatsuttered insensate cries. And suddenly there rose the first
strains of the national hymn. There was hesitation at firsta
wavering. But not for long. Those who had been dreading some
counter-demonstration realized that no objection could possibly
be raised to a prayer for the Tsar. All heads uncovered and the
Bodje Taara Krari mountedunanimouslytoward the stars.

Through his tears the young reporter never gave up his close watch
on Natacha. She had half risenandsinking backleaned on the
edge of the box. She calledtime and time againa name that
Rouletabille could not hear in the uproarbut that he felt sure
was "Annouchka! Annouchka!" "The reckless girl murmured
Rouletabille, and, profiting by the general excitement, he left the
box without being noticed. He made his way through the crowd toward
Natacha, whom he had sought futilely since morning. The audience,
after clamoring in vain for a repetition of the prayer by Annouchka,
commenced to disperse, and the reporter was swept along with them
for a few moments. When he reached the range of boxes he saw that
Natacha and the family she had been with were gone. He looked on
all sides without seeing the object of his search and like a madman
commenced to run through the passages, when a sudden idea struck his
blood cold. He inquired where the exit for the artists was and as
soon as it was pointed out, he hurried there. He was not mistaken.
In the front line of the crowd that waited to see Annouchka come
out he recognized Natacha, with her head enveloped in the black
mantle so that none should see her face. Besides, this corner of
the garden was in a half-gloom. The police barred the way; he could
not approach as near Natacha as he wished. He set himself to slip
like a serpent through the crowd. He was not separated from Natacha
by more than four or five persons when a great jostling commenced.
Annouchka was coming out. Cries rose: Annouchka! Annouchka!"
Rouletabille threw himself on his knees and on all-fours succeeded
in sticking his head through into the way kept by the police for
Annouchka's passage. Therewrapped in a great red mantlehis hat
on his armwas a man Rouletabille immediately recognized. It was
Prince Galitch. They were hurrying to escape the impending pressure
of the crowd. But Annouchka as she passed near Natacha stopped just
a second - a movement that did not escape Rouletabille - and
turning toward her said just the one wordCaracho.Then she
passed on. Rouletabille got up and forced his way backhaving
once more lost Natacha. He searched for her. He ran to the
carriage-way and arrived just in time to see her seated in a


carriage with the Mourazoff family. The carriage started at once
in the direction of the datcha des Iles. The young man remained
standing therethinking. He made a gesture as though he were
ready now to let luck take its course. "In the end said he, it
will be better soperhaps and then, to himself, Now to supper
my boy."

He turned in his tracks and soon was established in the glaring
light of the restaurant. Officers standingglass in handwere
saluting from table to table and waving a thousand compliments with
grace that was almost feminine.

He heard his name called joyouslyand recognized the voice of Ivan
Petrovitch. The three boon companions were seated over a bottle of
champagne resting in its ice-bath and were being served with tiny
pates while they waited for the supper-hourwhich was now near.

Rouletabille yielded to their invitation readily enoughand
accompanied them when the head-waiter informed Thaddeus that the
gentlemen were desired in a private room. They went to the first
floor and were ushered into a large apartment whose balcony opened
on the hall of the winter-theaterempty now. But the apartment
was already occupied. Before a table covered with a shining service
Gounsovski did the honors.

He received them like a servantwith his head downan obsequious
smileand his back bentbowing several times as each of the guests
were presented to him. Athanase had described him accurately
enougha mannikin in fat. Under the vast bent brow one could
hardly see his eyesbehind the blue glasses that seemed always
ready to fall as he inclined too far his fat head with its timid
and yet all-powerful glance. When he spoke in his falsetto voice
his chin dropped in a fold over his collarand he had a steady
gesture with the thumb and index finger of his right hand to retain
the glasses from sliding down his shortthick nose.

Behind him there was the finehaughty silhouette of Prince Galitch.
He had been invited by Annouchkafor she had consented to risk this
supper only in company with three or four of her friendsofficers
who could not be further compromised by this affairas they were
already under the eye of the Okrana (Secret Police) despite their
high birth. Gounsovski had seen them come with a sinister chuckle
and had lavished upon them his marks of devotion.

He loved Annouchka. It would have sufficed to have surprised just
once the jealous glance he sent from beneath his great blue glasses
when he gazed at the singer to have understood the sentiments that
actuated him in the presence of the beautiful daughter of the Black
Land.

Annouchka was seatedorrathershe loungedOriental fashion
on the sofa which ran along the wall behind the table. She paid
attention to no one. Her attitude was forbiddingeven hostile.
She indifferently allowed her marvelous black hair that fell in two
tresses over her shoulder to be caressed by the perfumed hands of
the beautiful Onotowho had heard her this evening for the first
time and had thrown herself with enthusiasm into her arms after the
last number. Onoto was an artist tooand the pique she felt at
first over Annouchka's success could not last after the emotion
aroused by the evening prayer before the hut. "Come to supper
Annouchka had said to her.

With whom?" inquired the Spanish artist.


With Gounsovski.

Never.

Do come. You will help me pay my debt and perhaps he will be
useful to you as well. He is useful to everybody.

Decidedly Onoto did not understand this countrywhere the worst
enemies supped together.

Rouletabille had been monopolized at once by Prince Galitchwho
took him into a corner and said:

What are you doing here?

Do I inconvenience you?asked the boy.

The other assumed the amused smile of the great lord.

While there is still time,he saidbelieve me, you ought to
start, to quit this country. Haven't you had sufficient notice?

Yes,replied the reporter. "And you can dispense with any further
notice from this time on."

He turned his back.

Why, it is the little Frenchman from the Trebassof villa,commenced
the falsetto voice of Gounsovski as he pushed a seat towards the
young man and begged him to sit between him and Athanase Georgevitch
who was already busy with the hors-doeuvres.

How do you do, monsieur?said the beautifulgrave voice of Annouchka.

Rouletabille saluted.

I see that I am in a country of acquaintances,he saidwithout
appearing disturbed.

He addressed a lively compliment to Annouchkawho threw him a kiss.

Rouletabille!cried la belle Onoto. "Whythenhe is the little
fellow who solved the mystery of the Yellow Room."

Himself.

What are you doing here?

He came to save the life of General Trebassof,sniggered
Gounsovski. "He is certainly a brave little young man."

The police know everything,said Rouletabille coldly. And he
asked for champagnewhich he never drank.

The champagne commenced its work. While Thaddeus and the officers
told each other stories of Bakou or paid compliments to the women
Gounsovskiwho was through with railleryleaned toward Rouletabille
and gave that young man fatherly counsel with great unction.

You have undertaken, young man, a noble task and one all the more
difficult because General Trebassof is condemned not only by his
enemies but still more by the ignorance of Koupriane. Understand
me thoroughly: Koupriane is my friend and a man whom I esteem very
highly. He is good, brave as a warrior, but I wouldn't give a


kopeck for his police. He has mixed in our affairs lately by
creating his own secret police, but I don't wish to meddle with that.
It amuses us. It's the new style, anyway; everybody wants his secret
police nowadays. And yourself, young man, what, after all, are you
doing here? Reporting? No. Police work? That is our business
and your business. I wish you good luck, but I don't expect it.
Remember that if you need any help I will give it you willingly. I
love to be of service. And I don't wish any harm to befall you.

You are very kind, monsieur,was all Rouletabille repliedand
he called again for champagne.

Several times Gounsovski addressed remarks to Annouchkawho
concerned herself with her meal and had little answer for him.

Do you know who applauded you the most this evening?

No,said Annouchka indifferently.

The daughter of General Trebassof.

Yes, that is true, on my word,cried Ivan Petrovitch.

Yes, yes, Natacba was there,joined in the other friends from the
datcha des Iles.

For me, I saw her weep,said Rouletabillelooking at Annouchka
fixedly.

But Annouchka replied in an icy tone:

I do not know her.

She is unlucky in having a father...Prince Galitch commenced.

Prince, no politics, or let me take my leave,clucked Gounsovski.
Your health, dear Annouchka.

Your health, Gounsovski. But you have no worry about that.

Why?demanded Thaddeus Tchitcbnikoff in equivocal fashion.

Because he is too useful to the government,cried Ivan Petrovitch.

No,replied Annouchka; "to the revolutionaries."

All broke out laughing. Gounsovski recovered his slipping glasses
by his usual quick movement and sniggered softlyinsinuatingly
like fat boiling in the pot:

So they say. And it is my strength.

His system is excellent,said the prince. "As he is in with
everybodyeverybody is in with the policewithout knowing it."

They say ... ah,ah ... they say ...(Athanase was choking over a
little piece of toast that he had soaked in his soup) "they say that
he has driven away all the hooligans and even all the beggars of the
church of Kasan."

Thereupon they commenced to tell stories of the hooligans
street-thieves who since the recent political troubles had infested
St. Petersburg and whom nobodycould get rid of without paying
for it.


Athanase Georgevitch said:

There are hooligans that ought to have existed even if they never
have. One of them stopped a young girl before Varsovie station.
The girl, frightened, immediately held out her purse to him, with
two roubles and fifty kopecks in it. The hooligan took it all.
'Goodness,' cried she, 'I have nothing now to take my train with.'
'How much is it?' asked the hooligan. 'Sixty kopecks.' 'Sixty
kopecks! Why didn't you say so?' And the bandit, hanging onto the
two roules, returned the fifty-kopeck piece to the trembling child
and added a ten-kopeck piece out of his own pocket.

Something quite as funny happened to me two winters ago, at Moscow,
said la belle Onoto. "I had just stepped out of the door when I was
stopped by a hooligan. 'Give me twenty kopecks' said the hooligan.
I was so frightened that I couldn't get my purse open. 'Quicker'
said he. Finally I gave him twenty kopecks. 'Now' said he then
'kiss my hand.' And I had to kiss itbecause he held his knife in
the other."

Oh, they are quick with their knives,said Thaddeus. "As I was
leaving Gastinidvor once I was stopped by a hooligan who stuck a
huge carving-knife under my nose. 'You can have it for a rouble
and a half' he said. You can believe that I bought it without any
haggling. And it was a very good bargain. It was worth at least
three roubles. Your healthbelle Onoto."

I always take my revolver when I go out,said Athanase. "It is
more prudent. I say this before the police. But I would rather be
arrested by the police than stabbed by the hooligans."

There's no place any more to buy revolvers,dedared Ivan
Petrovitch. "All such places are closed."

Gounsovski settled his glassesrubbed his fat hands and said:

There are some still at my locksmith's place. The proof is that
to-day in the little Kaniouche my locksmith, whose name is Smith,
when into the house of the grocer at the corner and wished to sell
him a revolver. It was a Browning. 'An arm of the greatest
reliability,' he said to him, 'which never misses fire and which
works very easily.' Having pronounced these words, the locksmith
tried his revolver and lodged a ball in the grocer's lung. The
grocer is dead, but before he died he bought the revolver. 'You
are right,' he said to the locksmith; 'it is a terrible weapon.'
And then he died.

The others laughed heartily. They thought it very funny. Decidedly
this great Gounsovski always had a funny story. Who would not like
to be his friend? Annouchka had deigned to smile. Gounsovskiin
recognitionextended his hand to her like a mendicant. The young
woman touched it with the end of her fingersas if she were placing
a twenty-kopeck piece in the hand of a hooliganand withdrew from
it with disgust. Then the doors opened for the Bohemians. Their
swarthy troupe soon filled the room. Every evening men and women
in their native costumes came from old Derevniawhere they lived
all together in a sort of ancient patriarchal communitywith customs
that had not changed for centuries; they scattered about in the
places of pleasurein the fashionable restaurantswhere they
gathered large sumsfor it was a fashionable luxury to have them
sing at the end of suppersand everyone showered money on them in
order not to be behind the others. They accompanied on guzlason
castanetson tambourinesand sang the old airsdoleful and


languorousor excitable and breathiess as the flight of the
earliest nomads in the beginnings of the world.

When they had enteredthose present made place for themand
Rouletabillewho for some moments had been showing marks of fatigue
and of a giddiness natural enough in a young man who isn't in the
habit of drinking the finest champagnesprofited by the diversion
to get a corner of the sofa not far from Prince Galitchwho
occupied the place at Annouchka's right.

Look, Rouletabaille is asleep,remarked la belle Onoto.

Poor boy!said Annouchka.

Andturning toward Gounsovski:

Aren't you soon going to get him out of our way? I heard some of
our brethren the other day speaking in a way that would cause pain
to those who care about his health.

Oh, that,said Gounsovskishaking his headis an affair I have
nothing to do with. Apply to Koupriane. Your health, belle
Annouchka.

But the Bohemians swept some opening chords for their songsand
the singers took everybody's attentioneverybody excepting Prince
Galitch and Annouchkawhohalf turned toward one another
exchanged some words on the edge of all this musical uproar. As
for Rouletabillehe certainly must have been sleeping soundly not
to have been waked by all that noisemelodious as it was. It is
true that be had - apparently - drunk a good deal andas everyone
knowsin Russia drink lays out those who can't stand it. When
the Bohemians had sung three times Gounsovski made a sign that they
might go to charm other earsand slipped into the hands of the
chief of the band a twenty-five rouble note. But Onoto wished to
give her miteand a regular collection commenced. Each one threw
roubles into the plate held out by a little swarthy Bohemian girl
with crow-black haircarelessly combedfalling over her forehead
her eyes and her facein so droll a fashion that one would have
said the little thing was a weeping-willow soaked in ink. The
plate reached Prince Galitchwho futilely searched his pockets.

Bah!said hewith a lordly airI have no money. But here is
my pocket-book; I will give it to you for a souvenir of me,
Katharina.

Thaddeus and Athanase exclaimed at the generosity of the prince
but Annouchka said:

The prince does as he should, for my friends can never sufficiently
repay the hospitality that that little thing gave me in her dirty
hut when I was in hiding, while your famous department was deciding
what to do about me, my dear Gounsovski.

Eh,replied GounsovskiI let you know that all you had to do
was to take a fine apartment in the city.

Annouchka spat on the ground like a teamsterand Gounsoyski from
yellow turned green.

But why did you hide yourself that way, Annouchka?asked Onoto as
she caressed the beautiful tresses of the singer.

You know I had been condemned to death, and then pardoned. I had


been able to leave Moscow, and I hadn't any desire to be re-taken
here and sent to taste the joys of Siberia.

But why were you condemned to death?

Why, she doesn't know anything! exclaimed the others.

Good Lord, I'm just back from London and Paris - how should I know
anything! But to have been condemned to death! That must have
been amusing.

Very amusing,said Annouchka icily. "And if you have a brother
whom you loveOnotothink how mnch more amusing it must be to
have him shot before you."

Oh, my love, forgive me!

So you may know and not give any pain to your Annouchka in the
future, I will tell you, madame, what happened to our dear friend,
said Prince Galitch.

We would do better to drive away such terrible memories,ventured
Gounsovskilifting his eyelashes behind his glassesbut he bent
his head as Annouchka sent him a blazing glance.

Speak, Galitch.

The Prince did as she said.

Annouchka had a brother, Vlassof, an engineer on the Kasan line,
whom the Strike Committee had ordered to take out a train as the
only means of escape for the leaders of the revolutionary troops
when Trebassof's soldiers, aided by the Semenowsky regiment, had
become masters of the city. The last resistance took place at the
station. It was necessary to get started. All the ways were
guarded by the military. There were soldiers everywhere! Vlassof
said to his comrades, 'I will save you;' and his comrades saw him
mount the engine with a woman. That woman was - well, there she
sits. Viassof's fireman had been killed the evening before, on a
barricade; it was Annouchka who took his place. They busied
themselves and the train started like a shot. On that curved line,
discovered at once, easy to attack, under a shower of bullets,
Vlassof developed a speed of ninety versts an hour. He ran the
indicator up to the explosion point. The lady over there continued
to pile coal into the furnace. The danger came to be less from the
military and more from an explosion at any moment. In the midst of
the balls Vlassof kept his usual coolness. He sped not only with
the firebox open but with the forced draught. It was a miracle
that the engine was not smashed against the curve of the embankment.
But they got past. Not a man was hurt. Only a woman was wounded.
She got a ball in the chest.

There!cried Annouchka.

With a magnificent gesture she flung open her white and heaving
chestand put her finger on a scar that Gounsovskiwhose fat began
to melt in heavy drops of sweat about his templesdared not look at.

Fifteen days later,continued the princeViassof entered an inn
at Lubetszy. He didn't know it was full of soldiers. His face
never altered. They searched him. They found a revolver and papers
on him. They knew whom they had to do with. He was a good prize.
Viassof was taken to Moscow and condemned to be shot. His sister,
wounded as she was, learned of his arrest and joined him. 'I do


not wish,' she said to him, 'to leave you to die alone.' She also
was condemned. Before the execution the soldiers offered to bandage
their eyes, but both refused, saying they preferred to meet death
face to face. The orders were to shoot all the other condemned
revolutionaries first, then Vlassof, then his sister. It was in
vain that Vlassof asked to die last. Their comrades in execution
sank to their knees, bleeding from their death wounds. Vlassof
embraced his sister and walked to the place of death. There he
addressed the soldiers: 'Now you have to carry out your duty
according to the oath you have taken. Fulfill it honestly as I
have fulfilled mine. Captain, give the order.' The volley
sounded. Vlassof remained erect, his arms crossed on his breast,
safe and sound. Not a ball had touched him. The soldiers did not
wish to fire at him. He had to summon them again to fulfill their
duty, and obey their chief. Then they fired again, and he fell.
He looked at his sister with his eyes full of horrible suffering.
Seeing that he lived, and wishing to appear charitable, the captain,
upon Annouchka's prayers, approached and cut short his sufferings
by firing a revolver into his ear. Now it was Annouchka's turn.
She knelt by the body of her brother, kissed his bloody lips, rose
and said, 'I am ready.' As the guns were raised, an officer came
running, bearing the pardon of the Tsar. She did not wish it, and
she whom they had not bound when she was to die had to be restrained
when she learned she was to live.

Prince Galitchamid the anguished silence of all therestarted to
add some words of comment to his sinister recitalbut Annouchka
interrupted:

The story is ended,said she. "Not a wordPrince. If I asked
you to tell it in all its horrorif I wished you to bring back to
us the atrocious moment of my brother's deathit is so that
monsieur" (her fingers pointed to Gounsovski) "shall know well
once for allthat if I have submitted for some hours now to this
promiscuous company that has been imposed upon menow that I have
paid the debt by accepting this abominable supperI have nothing
more to do with this purveyor of bagnios and of hangman's ropes who
is here."

She is mad,he muttered. "She is mad. What has come over her?
What has happened? Only to-day she was soso amiable."

And he stuttereddesolatelywith an embarrassed laugh:

Ah, the women, the women! Now what have I done to her?

What have you done to me, wretch? Where are Belachof, Bartowsky
and Strassof? And Pierre Slutch? All the comrades who swore with
me to revenge my brother? Where are they? On what gallows did you
have them hung? What mine have you buried them in? And still you
follow your slavish task. And my friends, my other friends, the
poor comrades of my artist life, the inoffensive young men who have
not committed any other crime than to come to see me too often when
I was lively, and who believed they could talk freely in my
dressing-room - where are they? Why have they left me, one by one?
Why have they disappeared? It is you, wretch, who watched them,
who spied on them, making me, I haven't any doubt, your horrible
accomplice, mixing me up in your beastly work, you dog! You knew
what they call me. You have known it for a long time, and you may
well laugh over it. But I, I never knew until this evening; I
never learned until this evening all I owe to you. 'Stool pigeon!
Stool pigeon!' I! Horror! Ah, you dog, you dog! Your mother,
when you were brought into the world, your mother ...Here she
hurled at him the most offensive insult that a Russian can offer a


man of that race.

She trembled and sobbed with ragespat in furyand stood up ready
to gowrapped in her mantle like a great red flag. She was the
statue of hate and vengeance. She was horrible and terrible. She
was beautiful. At the final supreme insultGounsovski started
and rose to his feet as though he had received an actual blow in
the face. He did not look at Annouchkabut fixed his eyes on
Prince Galitch. His finger pointed him out:

There is the man,he hissedwho has told you all these fine
things.

Yes, it is I,said the Princetranquilly.

Caracho!barked Gounsovskiinstantaneously regaining his coolness.

Ah, yes, but you'll not touch him,clamored the spirited girl of
the Black Land; "you are not strong enough for that."

I know that monsieur has many friends at court,agreed the chief
of the Secret Service with an ominous calm. "I 'don't wish ill to
monsieur. You speakmadameof the way some of your friends have
had to be sacrificed. I hope that some day you will be better
informedand that you will understand I saved all of them I could."

Let us go,muttered Annouchka. "I shall spit in his face."

Yes, all I could,replied the otherwith his habitual gesture of
hanging on to his glasses. "And I shall continue to do so. I
promise you not to say anything more disagreeable to the prince
than as regards his little friend the Bohemian Katharinawhom he
has treated so generously just nowdoubtless because Boris
Mourazoff pays her too little for the errands she runs each morning
to the villa of Krestowsky Ostrow."

At these words the Prince and Annouchka both changed countenance.
Their anger rose. Annouchka turned her head as though to arrange
the folds of her cloak. Galitch contented himself with shrugging
his shoulders impatiently and murmuring:

Still some other abomination that you are concocting, monsieur,
and that we don't know how to reply to.

After which he bowed to the supper-partytook Annouchka's arm and
had her move before him. Gounsovski bowedalmost bent in two.
When he rose he saw before him the three astounded and horrified
figures of Thaddeus TchitchnikoffIvan Petrovitch and Athanase
Georgevitch.

Messieurs,he said to themin a colorless voice which seemed not
to belong to himthe time has come for us to part. I need not
say that we have supped as friends and that, if you wish it to be
so, we can forget everything that has been said here.

The three others, frightened, at once protested their discretion.
He added, roughly this time, Service of the Tsar and the three
stammered, God save the Tsar!" After which he saw them to the
door. When the door had closed after themhe saidMy little
Annouchka, you mustn't reckon without me.He hurried toward the
sofawhere Rouletabille was lying forgottenand gave him a tap
on the shoulder.

Come, get up. Don't act as though you were asleep. Not an instant


to lose. They are going to carry through the Trebassof affair this
evening.

Rouletabille was already on his legs.

Ohmonsieur said he, I didn't want you to tell me that. Thanks
all the sameand good evening."

He went out.

Gounsovski rang. A servant appeared.

Tell them they may now open all the rooms on this corridor; I'll
not hold them any longer.Thus had Gounsovski kept himself
protected.

Left alonethe head of the Secret Service wiped his brow and drank
a great glass of iced water which he emptied at a draught. Then he
said:

Koupriane will have his work cut out for him this evening; I wish
him good luck. As to them, whatever happens, I wash my hands of
them.

And he rubbed his hands.

A DRAMA IN THE NIGHT

At the door of the Krestowsky Rouletabillewho was in a hurry for
a conveyancejumped into an open carriage where la belle Onoto was
already seated. The dancer caught him on her knees.

To Eliaguine, fast as you can,cried the reporter for all
explanation.

Scan! Scan! (Quickly, quickly)repeated Onoto.

She was accompanied by a vague sort of person to whom neither of
them paid the least attention.

What a supper! You waked up at last, did you?quizzed the actress.
But Rouletabillestanding up behind the enormous coachmanurged
the horses and directed the route of the carriage. They bolted
along through the night at a dizzy pace. At the corner of a bridge
he ordered the horses stoppedthanked his companions and
disappeared.

What a country! What a country! Caramba!said the Spanish artist.

The carriage waited a few minutesthen turned back toward the city.

Rouletabille got down the embankment and slowlytaking infinite
precautions not to reveal his presence by making the least noise
made his way to where the river is widest. Seen through the
blackness of the night the blacker mass of the Trebassof villa
loomed like an enormous blothe stopped. Then he glided like a
snake through the reedsthe grassthe ferns. He was at the back
of the villanear the rivernot far from the little path where


he had discovered the passage of the assassinthanks to the broken
cobwebs. At that moment the moon rose and the birch-treeswhich
just before had been like great black staffsnow became white
tapers which seemed to brighten that sinister solitude.


The reporter wished to profit at once by the sudden luminance to
learn if his movements had been noticed and if the approaches to
the villa on that side were guarded. He picked up a small pebble
and threw it some distance from him along the path. At the
unexpected noise three or four shadowy heads were outlined suddenly
in the white light of the moonbut disappeared at oncelost again
in the dark tufts of grass.


He had gained his information.


The reporter's acute ear caught a gliding in his directiona slight
swish of twigs; then all at once a shadow grew by his side and he
felt the cold of a revolver barrel on his temple. He said
Koupriane,and at once a hand seized his and pressed it.


The night had become black again. He murmured: "How is it you are
here in person?"


The Prefect of Police whispered in his ear:


I have been informed that something will happen to-night. Natacha
went to Krestowsky and exchanged some words with Annouchka there.
Prince Galitch is involved, and it is an affair of State.


Natacha has returned?inquired Rouletabille.


Yes, a long time ago. She ought to be in bed. In any case she is
pretending to be abed. The light from her chamber, in the window
over the garden, has been put out.


Have you warned Matrena Petrovna?


Yes, I have let her know that she must keep on the sharp look-out
to-night.


That's a mistake. I shouldn't have told her anything. She will
take such extra precautions that the others will be instantly
warned.


I have told her she should not go to the ground-floor at all this
night, and that she must not leave the general's chamber.


That is perfect, if she will obey you.


You see I have profited by all your information. I have followed
your instructions. The road from the Krestowsky is under
surveillance.


Perhaps too much. How are you planning?


We will let them enter. I don't know whom I have to deal with.
I want to strike a sure blow. I shall take him in the act. No more
doubt after this, you trust me.


Adieu.


Where are you going?


To bed. I have paid my debt to my host. I have the right to some



repose now. Good luck!

But Koupriane had seized his hand.

Listen.

With a little attention they detected a light stroke on the water.
If a boat was moving at this time for this bank of the Neva and
wished to remain hiddenthe right moment had certainly been chosen.
A great black cloud covered the moon; the wind was light. The boat
would have time to get from one bank to the other without being
discovered. Rouletabille waited no longer. On all-fours he ran
like a beastrapidly and silentlyand rose behind the wall of the
villawhere he made a turnreached the gatearoused the dvornicks
and demanded Ermolaiwho opened the gate for him.

The Barinia?he said.

Ermolai pointed his finger to the bedroom floor.

Caracho!

Rouletabille was already across the garden and had hoisted himself
by his fingers to the window of Natacha's chamberwhere he listened.
He plainly heard Natacha walking about in the dark chamber. He fell
back lightly onto his feetmounted the veranda steps and opened the
doorthen closed it so lightly that Ermolaiwho watched him from
outside not two feet awaydid not hear the slightest grinding of
the hinges. Inside the villa Rouletabille advanced on tiptoe. He
found the door of the drawing-room open. The door of the
sitting-room had not been closedor else had been reopened. He
turned in his tracksfelt in the dark for a chair and sat down
with his hand on his revolver in his pocketwaiting for the events
that would not delay long now. Above he heard distinctly from time
to time the movements of Matrena Petrovna. And this would evidently
give a sense of security to those who needed to have the ground-floor
free this night. Rouletabille imagined that the doors of the rooms
on the ground-floor had been left open so that it would be easier
for those who would be below to hear what was happening upstairs.
And perhaps he was not wrong.

Suddenly there was a vertical bar of pale light from the sitting-room
that overlooked the Neva. He deduced two things: firstthat the
window was already slightly openthen that the moon was out from
the clouds again. The bar of light died almost instantlybut
Rouletabille's eyesnow used to the obscuritystill distinguished
the open line of the window. There the shade was less deep.
Suddenly he felt the blood pound at his templesfor the line of the
open window grew largerincreasedand the shadow of a man gradually
rose on the balcony. Rouletabille drew his revolver.

The man stood up immediately behind one of the shutters and struck
a light blow on the glass. Placed as he was now he could be seen
no more. His shadow mixed with the shadow of the shutter. At the
noise on the glass Natacha's door had opened cautiouslyand she
entered the sitting-room. On tiptoe she went quickly to the window
and opened it. The man entered. The little light that by now was
commencing to dawn was enough to show Rouletabille that Natacha
still wore the toilette in which he had seen her that same evening
at Krestowsky. As for the manhe tried in vain to identify him;
he was only a dark mass wrapped in a mantle. He leaned over and
kissed Natacha's hand. She said only one word: "Scan!" (Quickly).

But she had no more than said it beforeunder a vigorous attack


the shutters and the two halves of the window were thrown wideand
silent shadows jumped rapidly onto the balcony and sprang into the
villa. Natacha uttered a shrill cry in which Rouletabille believed
still he heard more of despair than terrorand the shadows threw
themselves on the man; but heat the first alarmhad thrown
himself upon the carpet and had slipped from them between their
legs. He regained the balcony and jumped from it as the others
turned toward him. At leastit was so that Rouletabille believed
he saw the mysterious struggle go in the half-lightamid most
impressive silenceafter that frightened cry of Natacha's. The
whole affair had lasted only a few secondsand the man was still
hanging over the balconywhen from the bottom of the hall a new
person sprang. It was Matrena Petrovna.

Warned by Koupriane that something would happen that nightand
foreseeing that it would happen on the ground-floor where she was
forbidden to beshe had found nothing better to do than to make
her faithful maid go secretly to the bedroom floorwith orders to
walk about there all nightto make all think she herself was near
the generalwhile she remained belowhidden in the dining-room.

Matrena Petrovna now threw herself out onto the balconycrying in
RussianShoot! Shoot!In just that moment the man was hesitating
whether to risk the jump and perhaps break his neckor descend less
rapidly by the gutter-pipe. A policeman fired and missed himand
the manafter firing back and wounding the policemandisappeared.
It was still too far from dawn for them to see clearly what happened
belowwhere the barking of Brownings alone was heard. And there
could be nothing more sinister than the revolver-shots unaccompanied
by cries in the mists of the morning. The manbefore he
disappearedhad had only time by a quick kick to throw down one of
the two ladders which had been used by the police in climbing; down
the other one all the police in a buncheven to the wounded one
went slidingfallingrisingrunning after the shadow which fled
stilldischarging the Browning steadily; other shadows rose from
the river-bankhovering in the mist. Suddenly Koupniane's voice
was heard shouting orderscalling upon his agents to take the
quarry alive or dead. From the balcony Matrena Petrovna cried out
alsolike a savageand Rouletabille tried in vain to keep her
quiet. She was delirious at the thought "The Other" might escape
yet. She fired a revolvershe alsointo the groupnot knowing
whom she might wound. Rouletabille grabbed her arm and as she
turned on him angrily she observed Natachawholeaning until she
almost fell over the balconyher lips trembling with delirious
utterancefollowed as well as she could the progress of the
struggletrying to understand what happened belowunder the trees
near the Nevawhere the tumult by now extended. Matrena Petrovna
pulled her back by the arms. Then she took her by the neck and
threw her into the drawing-room in a heap. When she had almost
strangled her step-daughterMatrena Petrovna saw that the general
was there. He appeared in the pale glimmerings of dawn like a
specter. By what miracle had Feodor Feodorovitch been able to
descend the stairs and reach there? How had it been brought about?
She saw him tremble with anger or with wretchedness under the folds
of the soldier's cape that floated about him. He demanded in a
hoarse voiceWhat is it?

Matrena Petrovna threw herself at his feetmade the orthodox sign
of the Crossas if she wished to summon God to witnessand then
pointing to Natachashe denounced his daughter to her husband as
she would have pointed her out to a judge.

The one, Feodor Feodorovitch, who has wished more than once to
assassinate you, and who this night has opened the datcha to your


assassin is your daughter.

The general held himself up by his two hands against the walland
looking at Matrena and Natachawho now were both upon the floor
before him like suppliantshe said to Matrena:

It is you who assassinate me.

Me! By the living God!babbled Matrena Petrovna desperately.
If I had been able to keep this from you, Jesus would have been
good! But I say no more to crucify you. Feodor Feodorovitch,
question your daughter, and if what I have said is not true, kill
me, kill me as a lying, evil beast. I will say thank you, thank
you, and I will die happier than if what I have said was true. Ah,
I long to be dead! I Kill me!

Feodor Feodorovitch pushed her back with his stick as one would
push a worm in his path. Without saying anything furthershe rose
from her knees and looked with her haggard eyeswith her crazed
faceat Rouletabillewho grasped her arm. If she had had her
hands still free she would not have hesitated a second in wreaking
justice upon herself under this bitter fate of alienating Feodor.
And it seemed frightful to Rouletabille that he should be present
at one of those horrible family dramas the issue of which in the
wild times of Peter the Great would have sent the general to the
hangman either as a father or as a husband.

The general did not deign even to consider for any length of time
Matrena's delirium. He said to his daughterwho shook with sobs
on the floorRise, Natacha Feodorovna.And Feodor's daughter
understood that her father never would believe in her guilt. She
drew herself up towards him and kissed his hands like a happy slave.

At this moment repeated blows shook the veranda door. Matrenathe
watch-doganxious to die after Feodor's reproachbut still at her
postran toward what she believed to be a new danger. But she
recognized Koupriane's voicewhich called on her to open. She let
him in herself.

What is it?she implored.

Well, he is dead.

A cry answered him. Natacha had heard.

But who - who - who?questioned Matrena breathlessly.

Koupriane went over to Feodor and grasped his hands.

General,he saidthere was a man who had sworn your ruin and
who was made an instrument by your enemies. We have just killed
that man.

Do I know him?demanded Feodor.

He is one of your friends, you have treated him like a son.

His name?

Ask your daughter, General.

Feodor turned toward Natachawho burned Koupriane with her gaze
trying to learn what this news was he brought - the truth or a ruse.


You know the man who wished to kill me, Natacha?

No,she replied to her fatherin accents of perfect fury. "No
I don't know any such man."

Mademoiselle,said Kouprianein a firmterribly hostile voice
you have yourself, with your own hands, opened that window to-night;
and you have opened it to him many other times besides. While
everyone else here does his duty and watches that no person shall be
able to enter at night the house where sleeps General Trebassof,
governor of Moscow, condemned to death by the Central Revolutionary
Committee now reunited at Presnia, this is what you do; it is you
who introduce the enemy into this place.

Answer, Natacha; tell me, yes or no, whether you have let anybody
into this house by night.

Father, it is true.

Feodor roared like a lion:

His name!

Monsieur will tell you himself,said Natachain a voice thick
with terrorand she pointed to Koupriane. "Why does he not tell
you himself the name of that person? He must know itif the man
is dead."

And if the man is not dead,replied Feodorwho visibly held onto
himselfif that man, whom you helped to enter my house this night,
has succeeded in escaping, as you seem to hope, will you tell us his
name?

I could not tell it, Father.

And if I prayed you to do so?

Natacha desperately shook her head.

And if I order you?

You can kill me, Father, but I will not pronounce that name.

Wretch!

He raised his stick toward her. Thus Ivan the Terrible had killed
his son with a blow of his boar-spear.

But Natachainstead of bowing her head beneath the blow that
menaced herturned toward Koupriane and threw at him in accents of
triumph:

He is not dead. If you bad succeeded in taking him, dead or alive,
you would already have his name.

Koupriane took two steps toward herput his hand on her shoulder
and said:

Michael Nikolajevitch.

Michael Korsakoff!cried the general.

Matrena Petrovnaas if revolted by that suggestionstood upright
to repeat:


Michael Korsakoff!

The general could not believe his earsand was about to protest
when he noticed that his daughter had turned away and was trying to
flee to her room. He stopped her with a terrible gesture.

Natacha, you are going to tell us what Michael Korsakoff came here
to do to-night.

Feodor Feodorovitch, he came to poison you.

It was Matrena who spoke now and whom nothing could have kept silent
for she saw in Natacha's attempt at flight the most sinister
confession. Like a vengeful fury she told over with cries and
terrible gestures what she had experiencedas if once more stretched
before her the hand armed with the poisonthe mysterious hand above
the pillow of her poor invalidher dearrigorous tyrant; she told
them about the preceding night and all her terrorsand from her
lipsby her voluble staccato utterance that ominous recital had
grotesque emphasis. Finally she told all that she had doneshe
and the little Frenchmanin order not to betray their suspicions
to The Otherin order to take finally in their own trap all those
who for so many days and nights schemed for the death of Feodor
Feodorovitch. As she ended she pointed out Rouletabille to Feodor
and criedThere is the one who has saved you.

Natachaas she listened to this tragic recitalrestrained herself
several times in order not to interruptand Rouletabillewho was
watching her closelysaw that she had to use almost superhuman
efforts in order to achieve that. All the horror of what seemed to
be to her as well as to Feodor a revelation of Michael's crime did
not subdue herbut seemedon the contraryto restore to her in
full force all the life that a few seconds earlier had fled from her.
Matrena had hardly finished her cry There is the one who has
saved you,before Natacha cried in her turnfacing the reporter
with a look full of the most frightful hateThere is the one who
has heen the death of an innocent man!She turned to her father.
Ah, papa, let me, let me say that Michael Nikolaievitch, who came
here this evening, I admit, and whom, it is true, I let into the
house, tbat Michael Nikolaievitch did not come here yesterday, and
that the man who has tried to poison you is certainly someone else.

At these words Rouletabille turned palebut he did not let himself
lose self-control. He replied simply:

No, mademoiselle, it was the same man.

And Koupriane felt compelled to add:

Anyway, we have found the proof of Michael Nikolaievitch's relations
with the revolutionaries.

Where have you found that?questioned the young girlturning
toward the Chief of Police a face ravished with anguish.

At Krestowsky, mademoiselle.

She looked a long time at him as though she would penetrate to the
bottom of his thoughts.

What proofs?she implored.

A correspondence which we have placed under seal.


Was it addressed to him? What kind of correspondence?

If it interests you, we will open it before you.

My God! My God!she gasped. "Where have you found this
correspondence? Where? Tell me where!"

I will tell you. `At the villa, in his chamber. We forced the
lock of his bureau.

She seemed to breathe againbut her father took her brutally by
the arm.

Come, Natacha, you are going to tell us what that man was doing
here to-night.

In her chamber!cried Matrena Petrovna.

Natacha turned toward Matrena:

What do you believe, then? Tell me now.

And I, what ought I to believe?muttered Feodor. "You have not
told me yet. You did not know that man had relations with my
enemies. You are innocent of thatperhaps. I wish to think so.
I wish itin the name of Heaven I wish it. But why did you
receive him? Why? Why did you bring him in hereas a robber
or as a..."

Oh, papa, you know that I love Boris, that I love him with all my
heart, and that I would never belong to anyone but him.

Then, then, then. - speak!

The young girl had reached the crisis.

Ah, Father, Father, do not question me! You, you above all, do
not question me now. I can say nothing! There is nothing I can
tell you. Excepting that I am sure - sure, you understand - that
Michael Nikolaievitch did not come here last night.

He did come,insisted Rouletabille in a slightly troubled voice.

He came here with poison. He came here to poison your father,
Natacha,moaned Matrena Petrovnawho twined her hands in gestures
of sincere and naive tragedy.

And I,replied the daughter of Feodor ardentlywith an accent of
conviction which made everyone there vibrateand particularly
Rouletabilleand I, I tell you it was not he, that it was not he,
that it could not possibly be he. I swear to you it was another,
another.

But then, this other, did you let him in as well?said Koupriane.

Ah, yes, yes. It was I. It was I. It was I who left the window
and blinds open. Yes, it is I who did that. But I did not wait for
the other, the other who came to assassinate. As to Michael
Nikolaievitch, I swear to you, my father, by all that is most sacred
in heaven and on earth, that he could not have committed the crime
that you say. And now - kill me, for there is nothing more I can
say.


The poison,replied Koupriane coldlythe poison that he poured
into the general's potion was that arsenate of soda which was on
the grapes the Marshal of the Court brought here. Those grapes
were left by the Marshal, who warned Michael Nikolaievitch and
Boris Alexandrovitch to wash them. The grapes disappeared. If
Michael is innocent, do you accuse Boris?

Natachawho seemed to have suddenly lost all power for defending
herselfmoanedbeggedrailedseemed dying.

No, no. Don't accuse Boris. He has nothing to do with it. Don't
accuse Michael. Don't accuse anyone so long as you don't know. But
these two are innocent. Believe me. Believe me. Ah, how shall I
say it, how shall I persuade you! I am not able to say anything to
you. And you have killed Michael. Ah, what have you done, what
have you done!

We have suppressed a man,said the icy voice of Kouprianewho
was merely the agent for the base deeds of Nihilism.

She succeeded in recovering a new energy that in her depths of
despair they would have supposed impossible. She shook her fists
at Koupriane:

It is not true, it is not true. These are slanders, infamies! The
inventions of the police! Papers devised to incriminate him. There
is nothing at all of what you said you found at his house. It is
not possible. It is not true.

Where are those papers?demanded the curt voice of Feodor. "Bring
them here at onceKoupriane; I wish to see them."

Koupriane was slightly troubledand this did not escape Natacha
who cried:

Yes, yes, let him give us them, let him bring them if he has them.
But he hasn't,she clamored with a savage joy. "He has nothing.
You can seepapathat he has nothing. He would already have
brought them out. He has nothing. I tell you he has nothing. Ah
he has nothing! He has nothing!"

And she threw herself on the floorweepingsobbingHe has
nothing, he has nothing!She seemed to weep for joy.

Is that true?demanded Feodor Feodorovitchwith his most somber
manner. "Is it trueKouprianethat you have nothing?"

It is true, General, that we have found nothing. Everything had
already been carried away.

But Natacha uttered a veritable torrent of glee:

He has found nothing! Yet he accuses him of being allied with the
revolutionaries. Why? Why? Because I let him in? But I, am I a
revolutionary? Tell me. Have I sworn to kill papa? I? I? Ah, he
doesn't know what to say. You see for yourself, papa, he is silent.
He has lied. He has lied.

Why have you made this false statement, Koupriane?

Oh, we have suspected Michael for some time, and truly, after what
has just happened, we cannot have any doubt.

Yes, but you declared you had papers, and you have not. That is


abominable procedure, Koupriane,replied Feodor sternly. "I have
heard you condemn such expedients many times."

General! We are sure, you hear, we are absolutely sure that the
man who tried to poison you yesterday and the man to-day who is
dead are one and the same.

And what reason have you for being so sure? It is necessary to
tell it,insisted the generalwho trembled with distress and
impatience.

Yes, let him tell now.

Ask monsieur,said Koupriane.

They all turned to Rouletabille.

The reporter repliedaffecting a coolness that perhaps he did not
entirely feel:

I am able to state to you, as I already have before Monsieur the
Prefect of Police, that one, and only one, person has left the
traces of his various climbings on the wall and on the balcony.

Idiot!interrupted Natachawith a passionate disdain for the
young man. "And that satisfies you?"

The general roughly seized the reporter's wrist:

Listen to me, monsieur. A man came here this night. That concerns
only me. No one has any right to be astonished excepting myself. I
make it my own affair, an affair between my daughter and me. But
you, you have just told us that you are sure that man is an assassin.
Then, you see, that calls for something else. Proofs are necessary,
and I want the proofs at once. You speak of traces; very well, we
will go and examine those traces together. And I wish for your sake,
monsieur, that I shall be as convinced by them as you are.

Rouletabille quietly disengaged his wrist and replied with perfect
calm:

Now, monsieur, I am no longer able to prove anything to you.

Why?

Because the ladders of the police agents have wiped out all my
proofs, monsieur.

So now there remains for us only your wordonly your belief in
yourself. And if you are mistaken?"

He would never admit it, papa,cried Natacha. "Ahit is he who
deserves the fate Michael Nikolaievitch has met just now. Isn't it
so? Don't you know it? And that will be your eternal remorse! Isn't
there something that always keeps you from admitting that you are
mistaken? You have had an innocent man killed. Nowyou know well
enoughyou know well that I would not have admitted Michael
Nikolaievitch here if I had believed he was capable of wishing to
poison my father."

Mademoiselle,replied Rouletabillenot lowering his eyes under
Natacha's thunderous regardI am sure of that.

He said it in such a tone that Natacha continued to look at him


with incomprehensible anguish in her eyes. Ahthe baffling of
those two regardsthe mute scene between those two young people
one of whom wished to make himself understood and the other afraid
beyond all other things of being thoroughly understood. Natacha
murmured:

How he looks at me! See, he is the demon; yes, yes, the little
domovoi, the little domovoi. But look out, poor wretch; you don't
know what you have done.

She turned brusquely toward Koupriane:

Where is the body of Michael Nikolaievitch?said she. "I wish to
see it. I must see it."

Feodor Feodorovitch had fallenas though asleepupon a chair.
Matrena Petrovna dared not approach him. The giant appeared hurt
to the deathdisheartened forever. What neither bombsnor bullets
nor poison had been able to dothe single idea of his daughter's
co-operation in the work of horror plotted about him - or rather
the impossibility he faced of understanding Natacha's attitudeher
mysterious conductthe chaos of her explanationsher insensate
criesher protestations of innocenceher accusationsher menaces
her prayers and all her disorderthe avowed fact of her share in
that tragic nocturnal adventure where Michael Nikolaievitch found
his deathhad knocked over Feodor Feodorovitch like a straw. One
instant he sought refuge in some vague hope that Koupriane was less
assured than he pretended of the orderly's guilt. But thatafter
allwas only a detail of no importance in his eyes. What alone
mattered was the significance of Natacha's actand the unhappy
girl seemed not to be concerned over what he would think of it.
She was there to fight against KouprianeRouletabille and Matrena
Petrovnadefending her Michael Nikolajevitchwhile hethe father
after having failed to overawe her just nowwas there in a corner
suffering agonizedly.

Koupriane walked over to him and said:

Listen to me carefully, Feodor Feodorovitch. He who speaks to you
is Head of the Police by the will of the Tsar, and your friend by
the grace of God. If you do not demand before us, who are acquainted
with all that has happened and who know how to keep any necessary
secret, if you do not demand of your daughter the reason for her
conduct with Michael Nikolaievitch, and if she does not tell you
in all sincerity, there is nothing more for me to do here. My men
have already been ordered away from this house as unworthy to guard
the most loyal subject of His Majesty; I have not protested, but
now I in my turn ask you to prove to me that the most dangerous
enemy you have had in your house is not your daughter.

These wordswhich summed up the horrible situationcame as a
relief for Feodor. Yesthey must know. Koupriane was right. She
must speak. He ordered his daughter to tell everythingeverything.

Natacha fixed Koupriane again with her look of hatred to the death
turned from him and repeated in a firm voice:

I have nothing to say.

There is the accomplice of your assassins,growled Koupriane then
his arm extended.

Natacha uttered a cry like a wounded beast and fell at her father's
feet. She gathered them within her supplicating arms. She pressed


them to her breasts. She sobbed from the bottom of her heart. And
henot comprehendinglet her lie theredistanthostilesomber.
Then she moaneddistractedlyand wept bitterlyand the dramatic
atmosphere in which she thus suddenly enveloped Feodor made it all
sound like those cries of an earlier time when the all-powerful
punishing father appeared in the women's apartments to punish the
culpable ones.

My father! Dear Father! Look at me! Look at me! Have pity on
me, and do not require me to speak when I must be silent forever.
And believe me! Do not believe these men! Do not believe Matrena
Petrovna. And am I not your daughter? Your very own daughter! Your
Natacha Feodorovna! I cannot make things dear to you. No, no, by
the Holy Virgin Mother of Jesus I cannot explain. By the holy ikons,
it is because I must not. By my mother, whom I have not known and
whose place you have taken, oh, my father, ask me nothing more!
Ask me nothing more! But take me in your arms as you did when I
was little; embrace me, dear father; love me. I never have had such
need to be loved. Love me! I am miserable. Unfortunate me, who
cannot even kill myself before your eyes to prove my innocence and
my love. Papa, Papa! What will your arms be for in the days left
you to live, if you no longer wish to press me to your heart? Papa!
Papa!

She laid her head on Feodor's knees. Her hair had come down and
hung about her in a magnificent disorderly mass of black.

Look in my eyes! Look in my eyes! See how they love you,
Batouchka! Batouchka! My dear Batouchka!

Then Feodor wept. His great tears fell upon Natacha's tears. He
raised her head and demanded simply in a broken voice:

You can tell me nothing now? But when will you tell me?

Natacha lifted her eyes to histhen her look went past him toward
heavenand from her lips came just one wordin a sob:

Never.

Matrena PetrovnaKoupriane and the reporter shuddered before the
high and terrible thing that happened then. Feodor had taken his
daughter's face between his hands. He looked long at those eyes
raised toward heaventhe mouth which had just uttered the word
Never,thenslowlyhis rude lips went to the torturedquivering
lips of the girl. He held her close. She raised her head wildly
triumphantlyand criedwith arm extended toward Matrena Petrovna:

He believes me! He believes me! And you would have believed me
also if you had been my real mother.

Her head fell back and she dropped unconscious to the floor. Feodor
fell to his kneestending herdeploring hermotioning the others
out of the room.

Go away! All of you, go! All! You, too, Matrena Petrovna. Go
away!

They disappearedterrified by his savage gesture.

In the little datcha across the river at Krestowsky there was a
body. Secret Service agents guarded it while they waited for their
chief. Michael Nikolaievitch had come there to dieand the police
had reached him just at his last breath. They were behind him as


with the death-rattle in his throathe pulled himself into his
chamber and fell in a heap. Katharina the Bohemian was there. She
bent her quick-wittedpuzzled head over his death agony. The
police swarmed everywhereransackingforcing lockspulling
drawers from the bureau and tablesemptying the cupboards. Their
search took in everythingeven to ripping the mattressesand not
respecting the rooms of Boris Mourazoffwho was away this night.
They searched thoroughlybut they found absolutely nothing they
were looking for in Michael's rooms. But they accumulated a
multitude of publications that belonged to Boris: Western books
essays on political economya history of the French Revolution
and verses that a man ought to hang for. They put them all under
seal. During the search Michael died in Katharina's arms. She
had held him closeafter opening his clothes over the chest
doubtless to make his last breaths easier. The unfortunate officer
had received a bullet at the back of the head just after he had
plunged into the Neva from the rear of the Trebassof datcha and
started to swim across. It was a miracle that he had managed to
keep going. Doubtless he hoped to die in peace if only he could
reach his own house. He apparently had believed he could manage
that once he had broken through his human bloodhounds. He did not
know he was recognized and his place of retreat therefore known.

Now the police had gone from cellar to garret. Koupriane came from
the Trebassof villa and joined themRouletabille followed him.
The reporter could not stand the sight of that bodythat still had
a lingering warmthof the great open eyes that seemed to stare at
himreproaching him for this violent death. He turned away in
distasteand perhaps a little in fright. Koupriane caught the
movement.

Regrets?he queried.

Yes,said Rouletabille. "A death always must be regretted. None
the lesshe was a criminal. But I'm sincerely sorry he died before
he had been driven to confesseven though we are sure of it."

Being in the pay of the Nihilists, you mean? That is still your
opinion?asked Koupriane.

Yes.

You know that nothing has been found here in his rooms. The only
compromising papers that have been found belong to Boris Mourazoff.

Why do you say that?

Oh - nothing.

Koupriane questioned his men further. They replied categorically.
Nonothing had been found that directly incriminated anybody; and
suddenly Rouletabille noted that the conversation of the police and
their chief had grown more animated. Koupriane had become angry
and was violently reproaching them. They excused themselves with
vivid gesture and rapid speech.

Koupriane started away. Rouletabille followed him. What had
happened?

As he came up behind Kouprianehe asked the question. In a few
curt wordsstill hurrying onKoupriane told the reporter he had
just learned that the police had left the little Bohemian Katharina
alone for a moment with the expiring officer. Katharina acted as
housekeeper for Michael and Boris. She knew the secrets of them


both. The first thing any novice should have known was to keep a
constant eye upon herand now no one knew where she was. She must
be searched for and found at oncefor she had opened Michael's
shirtand therein probably lay the reason that no papers were found
on the corpse when the police searched it. The absence of papers
of a portfoliowas not natural.

The chase commenced in the rosy dawn of the isles. Already
blood-like tints were on the horizon. Some of the police cried
that they had the trail. They ran under the treesbecause it was
almost certain she had taken the narrow path leading to the bridge
that joins Krestowsky to Kameny-Ostrow. Some indications discovered
by the police who swarmed to right and left of the path confirmed
this hypothesis. And no carriage in sight! They all ran on
Koupriane among the first. Rouletabille kept at his heelsbut he
did not pass him. Suddenly there were cries and calls among the
police. One pointed out something below gliding upon the sloping
descent. It was little Kathanna. She flew like the windbut in
a distracted course. She had reached Kameny-Ostrow on the west
bank. "Ohfor a carriagea horse!" clamored Kouprianewho had
left his turn-out at Eliaguine. "The proof is there. It is the
final proof of everything that is escaping us!"

Dawn was enough advanced now to show the ground clearly. Katharina
was easily discernible as she reached the Eliaguine bridge. There
she was in Eliaguine-Ostrow. What was she doing there? Was she
going to the Trebassof villa? What would she have to say to them?
Noshe swerved to the right. The police raced behind her. She
was still far aheadand seemed untiring. Then she disappeared
among the treesin the thicketkeeping still to the right.
Koupriane gave a cry of joy. Going that way she must be taken. He
gave some breathless orders for the island to be barred. She could
not escape now! She could not escape! But where was she going?
Koupriane knew that island better than anybody. He took a short
cut to reach the other sidetoward which Katharina seemed to be
headingand all at once he nearly fell over the girlwho gave a
squawk of surprise and rushed awayseeming all arms and legs.

Stop, or I fire!cried Kouprianeand he drew his revolver. But
a hand grabbed it from him.

Not that!said Rouletabilleas be threw the revolver far from
them. Koupriane swore at him and resumed the chase. His fury
multiplied his strengthhis agility; he almost reached Katharina
who was almost out of breathbut Rouletabille threw himself into
the Chief's arms and they rolled together upon the grass. When
Koupriane roseit was to see Katharina mounting in mad haste the
stairs that led to the Barquethe floating restaurant of the
Strielka. Cursing Rouletabillebut believing his prey easily
captured nowthe Chief in his turn hurried to the Barqueinto
which Katharina had disappeared. He reached the bottom of the
stairs. On the top stepabout to descend from the festive place
the form of Prince Galltch appeared. Koupriane received the sight
like a blow stopping him short in his ascent. Galitch had an
exultant air which Koupriane did not mistake. Evidently he had
arrived too late. He felt the certainty of it in profound
discouragement. And this appearance of the prince on the Barque
explained convincingly enough the reason for Katharina's flight
here.

If the Bohemian had filched the papers or the portfolio from the
deadit was the prince now who had them in his pocket.

Kouprianeas he saw the prince about to pass himtrembled. The


prince saluted him and ironically amused himself by inquiring:

Well, well, how do you do, my dear Monsieur Koupriane. Your
Excellency has risen in good time this morning, it seems to me.
Or else it is I who start for bed too late.

Prince,said Kouprianemy men are in pursuit of a little Bohemian
named Katharina, well known in the restaurants where she sings. We
have seen her go into the Barque. Have you met her by any chance?

Good Lord, Monsieur Koupriane, I am not the concierge of the Barque,
and I have not noticed anything at all, and nobody. Besides, I am
naturally a little sleepy. Pardon me.

Prince, it is not possible that you have not seen Katharina.

Oh, Monsieur the Prefect of Police, if I had seen her I would not
tell you about it, since you are pursuing her. Do you take me for
one of your bloodhounds? They say you have them in all classes,
but I insist that I haven't enlisted yet. You have made a mistake,
Monsieur Koupriane.

The prince saluted again. But Koupriane still stood in his way.

Prince, consider that this matter is very serious. Michael
Nikolaievitch, General Trebassof's orderly, is dead, and this
little girl has stolen his papers from his body. All persons who
have spoken with Katharina will be under suspicion. This is an
affair of State, monsieur, which may reach very far. Can you
swear to me that you have not seen, that you have not spoken to
Katharina?

The prince looked at Koupriane so insolently that the Prefect turned
pale with rage. Ahif he were able - if he only dared! - but such
men as this were beyond him. Galitch walked past him without a word
of answerand ordered the schwitzar to call him a carriage.

Very well,said KouprianeI will make my report to the Tsar.

Galitch turned. He was as pale as Koupriane.

In that case, monsieur,said hedon't forget to add that I am
His Majesty's most humble servant.

The carriage drew up. The prince stepped in. Koupriane watched
him roll awayraging at heart and with his fists doubled. Just
then his men came up.

Go. Search,he said roughiypointing into the Barque.

They scattered through the establishmententering all the rooms.
Cries of irritation and of protest arose. Those lingering after
the latest of late suppers were not pleased at this invasion of the
police. Everybody had to rise while the police looked under the
tablesthe benchesthe long table-cloths. They went into the
pantries and down into the bold. No sign of Katharina. Suddenly
Kouprianewho leaned against a netting and looked vaguely out upon
the horizonwaiting for the outcome of the searchgot a start.
Yonderfar away on the other side of the riverbetween a little
wood and the Staria Derevniaa light boat drew to the shoreand a
little black spot jumped from it like a flea. Koupriane recognized
the little black spot as Kathanna. She was safe. Now he could not
reach her. It would be useless to search the maze of the Bohemian
quarterwhere her country-people lived in full controlwith


customs and privileges that had never been infringed. The entire
Bohemian population of the capital would have risen against him.
It was Prince Galitch who had made him fail. One of his men came
to him:

No luck,said he. "We have not found Katharinabut she has been
here nevertheless. She met Prince Galitch for just a minuteand
gave him somethingthen went over the other side into a canoe."

Very well,and the Prefect shrugged his shoulders. "I was sure of
it."

He felt more and moreexasperated. He went down along the river
edge and the first person he saw was Rouletabillewho waited for
him without any impatienceseated philosophically on a bench.

I was looking for you,cried the Prefect. "We have failed. By
your fault! If you had not thrown yourself into my arms -"

I did it on purpose,declared the reporter.

What! What is that you say? You did it on purpose?

Koupriane choked with rage.

Your Excellency,said Rouletabilletaking him by the armcalm
yourself. They are watching us. Come along and have a cup of tea
at Cubat's place. Easy now, as though we were out for a walk.

Will you explain to me?

No, no, Your Excellency. Remember that I have promised you General
Trebassof's life in exchange for your prisoner's. Very well; by
throwing myself in your arms and keeping you from reaching Katharina,
I saved the general's life. It is very simple.

Are you laughing at me? Do you think you can mock me?

But the prefect saw quickly that Rouletabille was not fooling and
had no mockery in his manner.

Monsieur,he insistedsince you speak seriously, I certainly
wish to understand -

It is useless,said Rouletabille. "It is very necessary that you
should not understand."

But at least...

No, no, I can't tell you anything.

When, then, will you tell me something to explain your unbelievable
conduct?

Rouletabille stopped in his tracks and declared solemnly:

Monsieur Koupriane, recall what Natacha Feodorovna as she raised her
lovely eyes to heaven, replied to her father, when he, also, wished
to understand: 'Never.'


THE POISON CONTINUE5

At ten o'clock that morning Rouletabille went to the Trebassof
villawhich had its guard of secret agents againa double guard
because Koupriane was sure the Nihilists would not delay in avenging
Michael's death. Rouletabille was met by Ermolaiwho would not
allow him to enter. The faithful servant uttered some explanation
in Russianwhich the young man did not understandorrather
Rouletabille understood perfectly from his manner that henceforth
the door of the villa was closed to him. In vain he insisted on
seeing the generalMatrena Petrovna and Mademoiselle Natacha.
Ermolai made no reply but "Nietnietniet." The reporter turned
away without having seen anyoneand walked away deeply depressed.
He went afoot clear into the citya long promenadeduring which
his brain surged with the darkest forebodings. As he passed by the
Department of Police he resolved to see Koupriane again. He went
ingave his nameand was ushered at once to the Chief of Police
whom he found bent over a long report that he was reading through
with noticeable agitation.

Gounsovski has sent me this,he said in a rough voicepointing
to the report. "Gounsovski'to do me a service' desires me to
know that he is fully aware of all that happened at the Trebassof
datcha last night. He warns me that the revolutionaries have
decided to get through with the general at onceand that two of
them have been given the mission to enter the datcha in any way
possible. They will have bombs upon their bodies and will blow
the bombs and themselves up together as soon as they are beside the
general. Who are the two victims designated for this horrible
vengeanceand who have light-heartedly accepted such a death for
themselves as well as for the general? That is what we don't know.
That is what we would have knownperhapsif you had not prevented
me from seizing the papers that Prince Galitch has now Koupriane
finished, turning hostilely toward Rouletabille.

Rouletabille had turned pale.

Don't regret what happened to the papers he said. It is I who
tell you not to. But what you say doesn't surprise me. They must
believe that Natacha has betrayed them."

Ah, then you admit at last that she really is their accomplice?

I haven't said that and I don't admit it. But I know what I mean,
and you, you can't. Only, know this one thing, that at the present
moment I am the only person able to save you in this horrible
situation. To do that I must see Natacha at once. Make her
understand this, while I wait at my hotel for word. I'll not leave
it.

Rouletabille saluted Koupriane and went out.

Two days passedduring which Rouletabille did not receive any word
from either Natacha or Kouprianeand tried in vain to see them.
He made a trip for a few hours to Finlandgoing as far as Pergalovo
an isolated town said to be frequented by the revolutionariesthen
returnedmuch disturbedto his hotelafter having written a last
letter to Natacha imploring an interview. The minutes passed very
slowly for him in the hotel's vestibulewhere he had seemed to have
taken up a definite residence.

Installed on a benchhe seemed to have become part of the hotel


staffand more than one traveler took him for an interpreter.
Others thought he was an agent of the Secret Police appointed to
study the faces of those arriving and departing. What was he
waiting forthen? Was it for Annouchka to return for a luncheon
or dinner in that place that she sometimes frequented? And did he
at the same time keep watch upon Annouchka's apartments just across
the way? If that was sohe could only bewail his luckfor
Annouchka did not appear either at her apartments or the hotelor
at the Krestowsky establishmentwhich had been obliged to suppress
her performance. Rouletabille naturally thoughtin the latter
connectionthat some vengeance by Gounsovski lay back of this
since the head of the Secret Service could hardly forget the way he

had been treated. The reporter could see already the poor singer
in spite of all her safeguards and the favor of the Imperial family
on the road to the Siberian steppes or the dungeons of Schlusselbourg.

My, what a country!he murmured.

But his thoughts soon quit Annouchka and returned to the object of
his main preoccupation. He waited for only one thingand for that
as soon as possible - to have a private interview with Natacha. He
had written her ten letters in two daysbut they all remained
unanswered. It was an answer that he waited for so patiently in
the vestibule of the hotel - so patientlybut so nervouslyso
feverishly.

When the postman enteredpoor Rouletabille's heart beat rapidly.
On that answer he waited for depended the formidable part he meant
to play before quitting Russia. He had accomplished nothing up to
nowunless he could play his part in this later development.

But the letter did not come. The postman leftand the schwitzar
after examining all the mailmade him a negative sign. Ahthe
servants who enteredand the errand-boyshow he looked at them!
But they never came for him. Finallyat six o'clock in the evening
of the second daya man in a frock-coatwith a false astrakhan
collarcame in and handed the concierge a letter for Joseph
Rouletabille. The reporter jumped up. Before the man was out the
door he had torn open the letter and read it. The letter was not
from Natacha. It was from Gounsovski. This is what it said:

My dear Monsieur Joseph Rouletabille, if it will not inconvenience
you, I wish you would oome and dine with me to-day. I will look
for you within two hours. Madame Gounsovski will be pleased to make
your acquaintance. Believe me your devoted Gounsovski.

Rouletabille consideredand decided:

I will go. He ought to have wind of what is being plotted, and as
for me, I don't know where Annoucbka has gone. I have more to learn
from him than he has from me. Besides, as Athanase Georgevitch said,
one may regret not accepting the Head of the Okrana's pleasant
invitation.

>From six o'clock to seven he still waited vainly for Natacha's
response. At seven o'clockhe decided to dress for the dinner.
Just as he rosea messenger arrived. There was still another
letter for Joseph Rouletabille. This time it was from Natachawho
wrote him:

General Trebassof and my step-mother will be very happy to have
you come to dinner to-day. As for myself, monsieur, you will pardon
me the order which has closed to you for a number of days a dwelling


where you have rendered services which I shall not forget all my
life.

The letter ended with a vague polite formula. With the letter in
his hand the reporter sat in thought. He seemed to be asking
himselfIs it fish or flesh?Was it a letter of thanks or of
menace? That was what he could not decide. Wellhe would soon
knowfor he had decided to accept that invitation. Anything that
brought him and Natacha into communication at the moment was a thing
of capital importance to him. Half-an-hour later he gave the
address of the villa to an isvotchickand soon he stepped out
before the gate where Ermolai seemed to be waiting for him.

Rouletabille was so occupied by thought of the conversation he was
going to have with Natacha that he had completely forgotten the
excellent Monsieur Gounsovski and his invitation.

The reporter found Koupriane's agents making a close-linked chain
around the grounds and each watching the other. Matrena had not
wished any agent to be in house. He showed Koupriane's pass and
entered.

Ermolai ushered Rouletabille in with shining face. He seemed glad
to have him there again. He bowed low before him and uttered many
complimentsof which the reporter did not understand a word.
Rouletablle passed onentered the garden and saw Matrena Petrovna
there walking with her step-daughter. They seemed on the best of
terms with each other. The grounds wore an air of tranquillity and
the residents seemed to have totally forgotten the somber tragedy
of the other night. Matrena and Natacha came smilingly up to the
young manwho inquired after the general. They both turned and
pointed out Feodor Feodorovitchwho waved to him from the height
of the kioskwhere it seemed the table had been spread. They were
going to dine out of doors this fine night.

Everything goes very well, very well indeed, dear little domovoi,
said Matrena. "How glad it is to see you and thank you. If you
only knew how I suffered in your absenceI who know how unjust my
daughter was to you. But dear Natacha knows now what she owes you.
She doesn't doubt your word nownor your clear intelligencelittle
angel. Michael Nikolaievitch was a monster and he was punished as
he deserved. You know the police have proof now that he was one of
the Central Revolutionary Committee's most dangerous agents. And
he an officer! Whom can we trust now!"

And Monsieur Boris Mourazoff, have you seen him since?inquired
Rouletabille.

Boris called to see us to-day, to say good-by, but we did not
receive him, under the orders of the police. Natacha has written
to tell him of Koupriane's orders. We have received letters from
him; he is quitting St. Petersburg.

What for?"

Well, after the frightful bloody scene in his little house, when
he learned how Michael Nikolaievitch had found his death, and after
he himself had undergone a severe grilling from the police, and
when he learned the police had sacked his library and gone through
his papers, he resigned, and has resolved to live from now on out
in the country, without seeing anyone, like the philosopher and
poet he is. So far as I am concerned, I think he is doing absolutely
right. When a young man is a poet, it is useless to live like a
soldier. Someone has said that, I don't know the name now, and


when one has ideas that may upset other people, surely they ought
to live in solitude.

Rouletabille looked at Natachawho was as pale as her white gown
and who added no word to her mother's outburst. They had drawn near
the kiosk. Rouletabille saluted the generalwho called to him to
come up andwhen the young man extended his handhe drew him
abruptly nearer and embraced him. To show Rouletabille how active
he was getting againFeodor Feodorovitch marched up and down the
kiosk with only the aid of a stick. He went and came with a sort
of wildfurious gayety.

They haven't got me yet, the dogs. They haven't got me! And one
(he was thinking of Michael) who saw me every day was here just for
that. Very well. I ask you where he is now. And yet here I am!
An attack! I'm always here! But with a good eye; and I begin to
have a good leg. We shall see. Why, I recollect how, when I was
at Tiflis, there was an insurrection in the Caucasus. We fought.
Several times I could feel the swish of bullets past my hair. My
comrades fell around me like flies. But nothing happened to me,
not a thing. And here now! They will not get me, they will not
get me. You know how they plan now to come to me, as living bombs.
Yes, they have decided on that. I can't press a friend's hand any
more without the fear of seeing him explode. What do you think of
that? But they won't get me. Come, drink my health. A small
glass of vodka for an appetizer. You see, young man, we are going
to have zakouskis here. What a marvelous panorama! You can see
everything from here. If the enemy comes,he added with a singular
loud laughwe can't fail to detect him.

Certainly the kiosk did rise high above the garden and was
completely detachedno wall being near. They had a clear view.
No branches of trees hung over the roof and no tree hid the view.
The rustic table of rough wood was covered with a short cloth and
was spread with zakouskis. It was a meal under the open skya
seat and a glass in the clear azure. The evening could not have
been softer and clearer. Andas the general felt so gaythe
repast would have promised to be most agreeableif Rouletabille
had not noticed that Matrena Petrovna and Natacha were uneasy and
downcast. The reporter soon sawtoothat all the general's
joviality was a little excessive. Anyone would have said that
Feodor Feodorovitch spoke to distract himselfto keep himself from
thinking. There was sufilcient excuse for him after the outrageous
drama of the other night. Rouletabille noticed further that the
general never looked at his daughtereven when he spoke to her.
There was too formidable a mystery lying between them for restraint
not to increase day by day. Rouletabille involuntarily shook his
headsaddened by all he saw. His movemerit was surprised by
Matrena Petrovnawho pressed his hand in silence.

Well, now,said the generalwell, now my children, where is the
vodka?

Among all the bottles which graced the table the general looked in
vain for his flask of vodka. How in the world could he dine if he
did not prepare for that important act by the rapid absorption of
two or three little glasses of white winebetween two or three
sandwiches of caviare!

Ermolai must have left it in the wine-chest,said Matrena.

The wine-closet was in the dining-room. She rose to go therebut
Natacha hurried before her down the little flight of stepscrying
Stay there, mamma. I will go.


Don't you bother, either. I know where it is,cried Rouletabille
and hurried after Natacha.

She did not stop. The two young people arrived in the dining-room at
the same time. They were there aloneas Rouletabille had foreseen.
He stopped Natacha and planted himself in front of her.

Why, mademoiselle, did you not answer me earlier?

Because I don't wish to have any conversation with you.

If that was so, you would not have come here, where you were sure
I would follow.

She hesitatedwith an emotion that would have been incomprehensible
to all others perhapsbut was not to Rouletabille.

Well, yes, I wished to say this to you: Don't write to me any more.
Don't speak to me. Don't see me. Go away from here, monsieur; go
away. They will have your life. And if you have found out anything,
forget it. Ah, on the head of your mother, forget it, or you are
lost. That is what I wished to tell you. And now, you go.

She grasped his hand in a quick sympathetic movement that she seemed
instantly to regret.

You go away,she repeated.

Rouletabille still held his place before her. She turned from him;
she did not wish to hear anything further.

Mademoiselle,said heyou are watched closer than ever. Who
will take Michael Nikolaievitch's place?

Madman, be silent! Hush!

I am here.

He said this with such simple bravery that tears sprang to her eyes.

Dear man! Poor man! Dear brave man!She did not know what to
say. Her emotion checked all utterance. But it was necessary for
her to enable him to understand that there was nothing he could do
to help her in her sad straits.

No. If they knew what you have just said, what you have proposed
now, you would be dead to-morrow. Don't let them suspect. And
above all, don't try to see me anywhere. Go back to papa at once.
We have been here too long. What if they learn of it? - and they
learn everything! They are everywhere, and have ears everywhere.

Mademoiselle, just one word more, a single word. Do you doubt now
that Michael tried to poison your father?

Ah, I wish to believe it. I wish to. I wish to believe it for
your sake, my poor boy.

Rouletabille desired something besides "I wish to believe it for
your sakemy poor boy." He was far from being satisfied. She saw
him turn pale. She tried to reassure him while her trembling hands
raised the lid of the wine-chest.

What makes me think you are right is that I have decided myself


that only one and the same person, as you said, climbed to the
window of the little balcony. Yes, no one can doubt that, and you
have reasoned well.

But he persisted still.

And yet, in spite of that, you are not entirely sure, since you
say, 'I wish to believe it, my poor boy.'

Monsieur Rouletabille, someone might have tried to poison my father,
and not have come by way of the window.

No, that is impossible.

Nothing is impossible to them.

And she turned her head away again.

Why, why,she saidwith her voice entirely changed and quite
indifferentas if she wished to be merely 'the daughter of the
house' in conversation with the young manthe vodka is not in
the wine chest, after all. What has Ermolai done with it, then?

She ran over to the buffet and found the flask.

Oh, here it is. Papa shan't be without it, after all.

Rouletabille was already into the garden again.

If that is the only doubt she has,he said to himselfI can
reassure her. No one could come, excepting by the window. And
only one came that way.

The young girl had rejoined himbringing the flask. They crossed
the garden together to the generalwho was whiling away the time
as he waited for his vodka explaining to Matrena Petrovna the nature
of "the constitution." He had spilt a box of matches on the table
and arranged them carefully.

Here,he cried to Natacha and Rouletabille. "Come here and I will
explain to you as well what this Constitution amounts to."

The young people leaned over his demonstration curiously and all
eyes in the kiosk were intent on the matches.

You see that match,said Feodor Feodorovitch. "It is the Emperor.
And this other match is the Empress; this one is the Tsarevitch;
and that one is the Grand-duke Alexander; and these are the other
granddukes. Nowhere are the ministers and there the principal
governorsand then the generals; these here are the bishops."

The whole box of matches was used upand each match was in its
placeas is the way in an empire where proper etiquette prevails
in government and the social order.

Well,continued the generaldo you want to know, Matrena
Petrovna, what a constitution is? There! That is the Constitution.

The generalwith a swoop of his handmixed all the matches.
Rouletabille laughedbut the good Matrena said:

I don't understand, Feodor.

Find the Emperor now.


Then Matrena understood. She laughed heartilyshe laughed
violentlyand Natacha laughed also. Delighted with his success
Feodor Feodorovitch took up one of the little glasses that Natacha
had filled with the vodka she brought.

Listen, my children,said he. "We are going to commence the
zakouskis. Koupriane ought to have been here before this."

Saying thisholding still the little glass in his handhe felt in
his pocket with the other for his watchand drew out a magnificent
large watch whose ticking was easily heard.

Ah, the watch has come back from the repairer,Rouletabille
remarked smilingly to Matrena Petrovna. "It looks like a splendid
one."

1t has very fine works,said the general. "It was bequeathed to
me by my grandfather. It marks the secondsand the phases of the
moonand sounds the hours and half-hours."

Rouletabille bent over the watchadmiring it.

You expect M. Koupriane for dinner?inquired the young manstill
examining the watch.

Yes, but since he is so late, we'll not delay any longer. Your
healths, my children,said the general as Rouletabille handed him
back the watch and he put it in his pocket.

Your health, Feodor Feodorovitch,replied Matrena Petrovnawith
her usual tenderness.

Rouletabille and Natacha only touched their lips to the vodkabut
Feodor Feodorovitch and Matrena drank theirs in the Russian fashion
head back and all at a draughtdraining it to the bottom and
flinging the contents to the back of the throat. They had no more
than performed this gesture when the general uttered an oath and
tried to expel what he had drained so heartily. Matrena Petrovna
spat violently alsolooking with horror at her husband.

What is it? What has someone put in the vodka?cried Feodor.

What has someone put in the vodka?repeated Matrena Petrovna in
a thick voiceher eyes almost starting from her head.

The two young people threw themselves upon the unfortunates.
Feodor's face had an expression of atrocious suffering.

We are poisoned,cried the generalin the midst of his chokings.
I am burning inside.

Almost madNatacha took her father's head in her hands. She cried
to him:

Vomit, papa; vomit!

We must find an emetic,cried Rauletabilleholding on to the
generalwho had almost slipped from his arms.

Matrena Petrovnawhose gagging noises were violenthurried down
the steps of the kioskcrossed the garden as though wild-fire were
behind herand bounded into the veranda. During this time the
general succeeded in easing himselfthanks to Rouletabillewho


had thrust a spoon to the root of his tongue. Natacha could do
nothing but cryMy God, my God, my God!Feodor held onto his
stomachstill cryingI'm burning, I'm burning!The scene was
frightfully tragic and funny at the same time. To add to the
burlesquethe general's watch in his pocket struck eight o'clock.
Feodor Feodorovitch stood up in a final supreme effort. "Ohit is
horrible!" Matrena Petrovna showed a redalmost violet face as she
came back; she distorted itshe chokedher mouth twitchedbut
she brought somethinga little packet that she wavedand from
whichtrembling frightenedlyshe shook a powder into the first
two empty glasseswhich were on her side of the table and were
those she and the general had drained. She still had strength to
fill them with waterwhile Rouletabille was almost overcome by the
generalwhom he still had in his armsand Natacha concerned
herself with nothing but her fatherleaning over him as though
to follow the progress of the terrible poisonto read in his eyes
if it was to be life or death. "Ipecac cried Matrena Petrovna,
and she made the general drink it. She did not drink until after
him. The heroic woman must have exerted superhuman force to go
herself to find the saving antidote in her medicine-chest, even
while the agony pervaded her vitals.

Some minutes later both could be considered saved. The servants,
Ermolai at their head, were clustered about. Most of them had been
at the lodge and they had not, it appeared, heard the beginning of
the affair, the cries of Natacha and Rouletabille. Koupriane
arrived just then. It was he who worked with Natacha in getting
the two to bed. Then he directed one of his agents to go for the
nearest doctors they could find.

This done, the Prefect of Police went toward the kiosk where he had
left Rouletabille. But Rouletabille was not to be found, and the
flask of vodka and the glasses from which they had drunk were gone
also. Ermolai was near-by, and he inquired of the servant for the
young Frenchman. Ermolai replied that he had just gone away,
carrying the flask and the glasses. Koupriane swore. He shook
Ermolai and even started to give him a blow with the fist for
permitting such a thing to happen before his eyes without making a
protest.

Ermolai, who had his own haughtiness, dodged Koupriane's fist and
replied that he had wished to prevent the young Frenchman, hut the
reporter had shown him a police-paper on which Koupriane himself
had declared in advance that the young Frenchman was to do anything
he pleased.

PERE ALEXIS

Koupriane jumped into his carriage and hurried toward St. Petersburg.
On the way he spoke to three agents who only he knew were posted in
the neighborhood of Eliaguine. They told him the route Rouletabille
had taken. The reporter had certainly returned into the city. He
hurried toward Troitski Bridge. There, at the corner of the
Naberjnaia, Koupriane saw the reporter in a hired conveyance.
Rouletabille was pounding his coachman in the back, Russian fashion,
to make him go faster, and was calling with all his strength one of
the few words he had had time to learn, Nalevanaleva" (to the
left). The driver was forced to understand at lastfor there was


no other way to turn than to the left. If he had turned to the
right (naprava) he would have driven into the river. The
conveyance clattered over the pointed flints of a neighborhood that
led to a little streetAptiekarski-Pereoulokat the corner of the
Katharine canal. This "alley of the pharmacists" as a matter of
fact contained no pharmacistsbut there was a curious sign of a
herbariumwhere Rouletabille made the driver stop. As the carriage
rolled under the arch Rouletabille recognized Koupriane. He did
not waitbut cried to himAh, here you are. All right; follow
me.He still had the flask and the glasses in his hands. Koupriane
couldn't help noticing how strange he looked. He passed through a
court with himand into a squalid shop.

What,said Kouprianedo you know Pere Alexis?

They were in the midst of a curious litter. Clusters of dried herbs
hung from the ceilingand all among them were clumps of old boots
shriveled skinsbattered pansscrap-ironsheep-skinsuseless
touloupesand on the floor musty old clothesmoth-eaten fursand
sheep-skin coats that even a moujik of the swamps would not have
deigned to wear. Here and there were old teethragged finery
dilapidated hatsand jars of strange herbs ranged upon some rickety
shelving. Between the set of scales on the counter and a heap of
little blocks of wood used for figuring the accounts of this singular
business were ungilded ikonsoxidized silver crossesand Byzantine
pictures representing scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Jars
of alcohol with what seemed to be the skeletons of frogs swimming
in them filled what space was left. In a corner of this large
murky roomunder the vault of mossed stonea small altar stood
and the light burned in a hanging glass of oil before the holy
images. A man was praying before the altar. He wore the costume
of old Russiathe caftan of green clothbuttoned at the shoulder
and tucked in at the waist by a narrow belt. He had a bushy beard
and his hair fell to his shoulders. When he had finished his prayer
he roseperceived Rouletabille and came over to take his hand. He
spoke French to the reporter:

Well, here you are again, lad. Do you bring poison again to-day?
This will end by being found out, and the police...

Just then he discerned Koupriane's form in the shadowdrew close
to make out who it wasand fell to his knees as he saw who it was.
Rouletabille tried to raise himbut he insisted on prostrating
himself. He was sure the Prefect of Police had come to his house
to hang him. Finally he was reassured by Rouletabile's positive
assertions and the great chief's robust laugh. The Prefect wished
to know how the young man came to be acquainted with the "alchemist"
of the police. Rouletabille told him in a few words.

Maitre Alexisin his youthwent to France afootto study pharmacy
because of his enthusiasm for chemistry. But he always remained
countrifiedvery much a Russian peasanta semi-Oriental bearand
did not achieve his degree. He took some certificatesbut the
examinations were too much for him. For fifty years he lived
miserably as a pharmacist's assistant in the back of a disreputable
shop in the Notre Dame quarter. The proprietor of the place was
implicated in the famous affair of the gold ingotswhich started
Rouletabille's reputationand was arrested along with his assistant
Alexis. It was Rouletabille who provedclear as daythat poor
Alexis was innocentand that he had never been cognizant of his
master's evil waysbeing absorbed in the depths of his laboratory
in trying to work out a naive alchemy which fascinated himthough
the world of chemistry had passed it by centuries ago. At the
trial Alexis was acquittedbut found himself in the street. He


shed what tears remained in his body upon the neck of the reporter
assuring him of paradise if he got him back to his own country
because he desired only the one thing more of lifethat he might
see his birth-land before he died. Rouletabille advanced the
necessary means and sent him to St. Petersburg. There he was picked
up at the end of two days by the policein a petty gambling-game
and thrown into prisonwhere he promptly had a chance to show his
talents. He cured some of his companions in miseryand even some
of the guards. A guard who had an injured legwhose healing he
had despaired ofwas cured by Alexis. Then there was found to be
no actual charge against him. They set him free andmoreover
they interested themselves in him. They found meager employment
for him in the Stchoukine-dvoran immense popular bazaar. He
accumulated a few roubles and installed himself on his own account
at the back of a court in the Aptiekarski-Pereoulokwhere he
gradually piled up a heap of old odds and ends that no one wanted
even in the Stchoukine-dvor. But he was happybecause behind his
shop he had installed a little laboratory where he continued for
his pleasure his experiments in alchemy and his study of plants.
He still proposed to write a book that he had already spoken of in
France to Rouletabilleto prove the truth of "Empiric Treatment
of Medicinal Herbsthe Science of Alchemyand the Ancient
Experiments in Sorcery." Between times he continued to cure anyone
who applied to himand the police in particular. The police guards
protected him and used him. He had splendid plasters for them after
the scandal,as they called the October riots. So when the
doctors of the quarter tried to prosecute him for illegal practice
a deputation of police-guards went to Kouprianewho took the
responsibility and discontinued proceedings against him. They
regarded him as under protection of the saintsand Alexis soon
came to be regarded himself as something of a holy man. He never
failed every Christmas and Easter to send his finest images to
Rouletabillewishing him all prosperity and saying that if ever
he came to St. Petersburg he should be happy to receive him at
Aptiekarski-Pereoulokwhere he was established in honest labor.
Pere Alexislike all the true saintswas a modest man.

When Alexis had recovered a little from his emotion Rouletabille
said to him:

Pere Alexis, I do bring you poison again, but you have nothing to
fear, for His Excellency the Chief of Police is with me. Here is
what we want you to do. You must tell us what poison these four
glasses have held, and what poison is still in this flask and this
little phial.

What is that little phial?demanded Kouprianeas he saw
Rouletabille pull a smallstoppered bottle out of his pocket.

The reporter repliedI have put into this bottle the vodka that
was poured into Natacha's glass and mine and that we barely touched.

Someone has tried to poison you!exclaimed Pere Alexis.

No, not me,replied Rouletabillein bored fashion. "Don't think
about that. Simply do what I tell you. Then analyze these two
napkinsas well."

And he drew from his coat two soiled napkins.

Well,said Kouprianeyou have thought of everything.

They are the napkins the general and his wife used.


Yes, yes, I understand that,said the Chief of Police.

And you, Alexis, do you understand?asked the reporter. "When
can we have the result of your analysis?

In an hour, at the latest.

Very well,said Koupriane. "Now I need not tell you to hold your
tongue. I am going to leave one of my men here. You will write us
a note that you will sealand he will bring it to head-quarters.
Sure you understand? In an hour?"

In an hour, Excellency.

They went outand Alexis followed thembowing to the floor.
Koupriane had Rouletabille get into his carriage. The young man
did as he was told. One would have said he did not know where he
was or what he did. He made no reply to the chief's questions.

This Pere Alexander,resumed Kouprianeis a character, really
quite a figure. And a bit of a schemer, I should say. He has seen
how Father John of Cronstadt succeeded, and he says to himself,
'Since the sailors had their Father John of Cronstadt, why shouldn't
the police-guard have their Father Alexis of Aptiekarski-Pereoulok?'

But Rouletabille did not reply at alland Koupriane wound up by
demanding what was the matter with him.

The matter is,replied Rouletabilleunable longer to conceal his
anguishthat the poison continues.

Does that astonish you?returned Koupriane. "It doesn't me."

Rouletabille looked at him and shook his head. His lips trembled
as he saidI know what you think. It is abominable. But the
thing I have done certainly is more abominable still.

What have you done, then, Monsieur Rouletabille?

Perhaps I have caused the death of an innocent man.

So long as you aren't sure of it, you would better not fret about
it, my dear friend.

It is enough that the doubt has arisen,said the reporteralmost
to kill me;and he heaved so gloomy a sigh that the excellent
Monsieur Koupriane felt pity for the lad. He tapped him on the knee.

Come, come, young man, you ought to know one thing by this time

-'you can't make omelettes without breaking eggs,' as they say, I
think, in Paris.
Rouletabille turned away from him with horror in his heart. If
there should be anothersomeone besides Michael! If it was another
hand than his that appeared to Matrena and him in the mysterious
night! If Michael Nikolaievitch had been innocent! Wellhe
would kill himselfthat was all. And those horrible words that he
had exchanged with Natacha rose in his memorysinging in his ears
as though they would deafen him.

Do you doubt still?he had asked herthat Michael tried to
poison your father?

And Natacha had repliedI wish to believe it! I wish to believe


it, for your sake, my poor boy.And then he recalled her other
wordsstill more frightful now! "Couldn't someone have tried to
poison my father and not have come by the window?" He had faced
such a hypothesis with assurance then - but nownow that the poison
continuedcontinued within the housewhere he believed himself
so fully aware of all people and things - continued now that Michael
Nikolaievitch was dead - ahwhere did it come fromthis poison?

-and what was it? Pere Alexis would hurry hiss analysis if he had
any regard for poor Rouletabille.
For Rouletabille to doubtand in an affair where already there was
one man dead through his agencywas torment worse than death.

When they arrived at police-headquartersRouletabille jumped from
Koupriane's carriage and without saying a word hailed an empty
isvotchick that was passing. He had himself driven back to Pere
Alexis. His doubt mastered his will; he could not bear to wait
away. Under the arch of Aptiekarski-Pereoulok he saw once more
the man Koupriane had placed there with the order to bring him
Alexis's message. The man looked at him in astonishment.
Rouletabille crossed the court and entered the dingy old room once
more. Pere Alexis was not therenaturallyengaged as he was
in his laboratory. But a person whom he did not recognize at first
sight attracted the reporter's attention. In the half-light of the
shop a melancholy shadow leaned over the ikons on the counter. It
was only when he straightened upwith a deep sighand a little
lightdeflected and yellow from passing through window-panes that
had known no touch of cleaning since they were placed therefell
faintly on the facethat Rouletabille ascertained he was face to
face with Boris Mourazoff. It was indeed hethe erstwhile
brilliant officer whose elegance and charm the reporter had admired
as he saw him at beautiful Natacha's feet in the datcha at Eliaguine.
Nowno more in uniformhe had thrown over his bowed shoulders a
wretched coatwhose sleeves swayed listlessly at his sidesin
accord with his mood of languid desperationa felt hat with the
rim turned down hid a little the misery in his face in tnese few
daysthese not-many hourshow he was changed! Buteven as he
washe still concerned Rouletabille. What was he doing there?
Was he not going to go awayperhaps? He had picked up an ikon
from the counter and carried it over to the window to examine its
oxidized silvergiving such close attention to it that the reporter
hoped he might reach the door of the laboratory without being
noticed. He already had his hand on the knob of that doorwhich
was behind the counterwhen he heard his name called.

It is you, Monsieur Rouletabille,said the lowsad voice of
Boris. "What has brought you herethen?"

Well, well, Monsieur Boris Mourazoff, unless I'm mistaken? I
certainly didn't expect to find you here in Pere Alexis's place.

Why not, Monsieur Rouletabille? One can find anything here in
Pere Alexis's stock. See; here are two old ikons in wood, carved
with sculptures, which came direct from Athos, and can't be equaled,
I assure you, either at Gastini-Dvor nor even at Stchoukine-Dvor

Yes, yes, that is possible,said Rouletabilleimpatiently. "Are
you an amateur of such things?" he addedin order to say something.

Oh, like anybody else. But I was going to tell you, Monsieur
Rouletabille, I have resigned my commission. I have resolved to
retire from the world; I am going on a long voyage.(Rouletabille
thought: 'Why not have gone at once?') "And before goingI have
come here to supply myself with some little gifts to send those of


my friends I particularly care foralthough nowmy dear Monsieur
RouletabilleI don't care much for anything."

You look desolate enough, monsieur.

Boris sighed like a child.

How could it be otherwise?he said. "I loved and believed myself
beloved. But it proved to be - nothingalas!"

Sometimes one only imagines things,said Rouletabillekeeping
his hand on the door.

Oh, yes,said the othergrowing more and more melancholy. "So
a man suffers. He is his own tormentor; he himself makes the wheel
on whichlike his own executionerhe binds himself."

It is not necessary, monsieur; it is not necessary,counseled the
reporter.

Listen,implored Boris in a voice that showed tears were not far
away. "You are still a childbut still you can see things. Do
you believe Natacha loves me?"

I am sure of it, Monsieur Boris; I am sure of it.

I am sure of it, too. But I don't know what to think now. She
has let me go, without trying to detain me, without a word of hope.

And where are you going like that?

I am returning to the Orel country, where I first saw her.

That is good, very good, Monsieur Boris. At least there you are
sure to see her again. She goes there every year with her parents
for a few weeks. It is a detail you haven't overlooked, doubtless.

Certainly I haven't. I will tell you that that prospect decided
my place of retreat.

See!

God gives me nothing, but He opens His treasures, and each takes
what he can.

Yes, yes; and Mademoiselle Natacha, does she know it is to Orel
you have decided to retire?

I have no reason for concealing it from her, Monsieur Rouletabille.

So far so good. You needn't feel so desolate, my dear Monsieur
Boris. All is not lost. I will say even that I see a future for
you full of hope.

Ah, if you are able to say that truthfully, I am happy indeed to
have met you. I will never forget this rope you have flung me when
all the waters seemed closing over my head. 'What do you advise,
then?

I advise you to go to Orel, monsieur, and as quickly as possible.

Very well. You must have reasons for saying that. I obey you,
monsieur, and go.


As Boris started towards the entrance-archRouletabille slipped
into the laboratory. Old Alexis was bent over his retorts. A
wretched lamp barely lighted his obscure work. He turned at the
noise the reporter made.

Ah!-you, lad!

'Well?

Oh, nothing so quick. Still, I have already analyzed the two
napkins, you know.

Yes? The stains? Tell me, for the love of God!

Well, my boy, it is arsenate of soda again.

Rouletabillestricken to the heartuttered a low cry and everything
seemed to dance around him. Pere Alexis in the midst of all the
strange laboratory instruments seemed Satan himselfand he repulsed
the kindly arms stretched forth to sustain him; in the gloomwhere
danced here and there the little blue flames from the crucibles
lively as flickering tongueshe believed he saw Michael
Nikolaievitch's ghost come to cryThe arsenate of soda continues,
and I am dead.He fell against the doorwhich swung openand he
rolled as far as the counterand struck his face against it. The
shockthat might well have been fatalbrought him out of his
intense nightmare and made him instantly himself again. He rose
jumped over the heap of boots and fol-de-rolsand leaped to the
court. There Boris grabbed him by his coat. Rouletabille turned
furious:

What do you want? You haven't started for the Orel yet?

Monsieur, I am going, but I will be very grateful if you will take
these things yourself to - to Natacha.He showed himstill with
despairing mienthe two ikons from Mount Athosand Rouletabille
took them from himthrust them in his pocketand hurried on
cryingI understand.

OutsideRouletabille tried to get hold of himselfto recover his
coolness a little. Was it possible that he had made a mortal error?
Alasalashow could he doubt it now! The arsenate of soda
continued. He madea superhuman effort to ward off the horror of
thateven momentarily - the death of innocent Michael Nikolaievitch

-and to think of nothing except the immediate consequenceswhich
must be carefully considered if he wished to avoid some new
catastrophe. Ahthe assassin was not discouraged. And that time
what a piece of work he had tried! What a hecatomb if he had
succeeded! The generalMatrena PetrovnaNatacha and Rouletabille
himself (who almost regrettedso far as he was concernedthat it
had not succeeded) - and Koupriane! Kouprianewho should have
been there for luncheon. What a bag for the Nihilists! That was
itthat was it. Rouletabille understood now why they had not
hesitated to poison everybody at once: Koupriane was among them.
Michael Nikolaievitch would have been avenged!

The attempt had failed this timebut what might they not expect
now! From the moment he believed Michael Nikolaievitch no longer
guiltyas he had imaginedRouletabille fell into a bottomless
abyss.

Where should he go? After a few moments he made the circuit of the
Rotundawhich serves as the market for this quarter and is the


finest ornament of Aptiekarski-Pereoulok. He made the circuit
without knowing itwithout stopping for anythingwithout seeing
or understanding anything. As a broken-winded horse makes its way
in the treadmillso he walked around with the thought that he
also was lost in a treadmill that led him nowhere. Rouletabille
was no longer Rouletabille.

THE LIVING BOMBS

At random - because now he could only act at random - he returned
to the datcha. Great disorder reigned there. The guard had been
doubled. The general's friendssummoned by Trebassofsurrounded
the two poisoned sufferers and filled the house with their bustling
devotion and their protestations of affection. Howeveran
insignificant doctor from the common quarter of the Vasili-Ostrow
brought by the policereassured everybody. The police had not
found the general's household physician at homebut promised the
immediate arrival of two specialistswhom they had found instead.
In the meantime they had picked up on the way this little doctor
who was gay and talkative as a magpie. He had enough to do looking
after Matrena Petrovnawho had been so sick that her husband
Feodor Feodorovitchstill trembledfor the first time in his
life,as the excellent Ivan Petrovitch said.

The reporter was astonished at not finding Natacha either in
Matrena's apartment or Feodor's. He asked Matrena where her
step-daughter was. Matrena turned a frightened face toward him.
When they were aloneshe said:

We do not know where she is. Almost as soon as you left she
disappeared, and no one has seen her since. The general has asked
for her several times. I have had to tell him Koupriane took her
with him to learn the details from her of what happened.

She is not with Koupriane,said Rouletabille.

Where is she? This disappearance is more than strange at the
moment we were dying, when her father - O God! Leave me, my child;
I am stifling; I am stifling.

Rouletabille called the temporary doctor and withdrew from the
chamber. He had come with the idea of inspecting the house room by
roomcorner by cornerto make sure whether or not any possibility
of entrance existed that he had not noticed beforean entrance
would-be poisoners were continuing to use. But now a new fact
confronted him and overshadowed everything: the disappearance of
Natacha. How he lamented his ignorance of the Russian language

-and not one of Koupriane's men knew French. He might draw
something out of Ermolai.
Ermolai said he had seen Natacha just outside the gate for a moment
looking up and down the road. Then he had been called to the
generaland so knew nothing further.

That was all the reporter could gather from the gestures rather than
the words of the old servant.

An additional difficulty now was that twilight drew onand it was


impossible for the reporter to discern Natacha's foot-prints. Was
it true that the young girl had fled at such a momentimmediately
after the poisoningbefore she knew whether her father and mother
were entirely out of danger? If Natacha were innocentas
Rouletabille still wished to believesuch an attitude was simply
incomprehensible. And the girl could not but be aware she would
increase Koupriane's suspicions. The reporter had a vital reason
for seeing her immediatelya vital reason for all concernedabove
all in this moment when the Nihilists were culminating their plans
a vital reason for her and for himequally menaced with deathto
talk with her and to renew the propositions he had made a few
minutes before the poisoning and which she had not wished to hear
him talk aboutin fearful pity for him or in defiance of him.
Where was Natacha? He thought maybe she was trying to rejoin
Annouchkaand there were reasons for thatboth if she were innocent
and if she were guilty. But where was Annouchka? Who could say!
Gounsovski perhaps. Rouletabille jumped into an isvoreturning
from the Point emptyand gave Gounsovski's address. He deigned
then to recall that he had been invited that same day to dine with
the Gounsovskis. They would no longer be expecting him. He blamed
himself.

They received himbut they had long since finished dinner.

Monsieur and Madame Gounsovski were playing a game of draughts
under the lamp. Rouletabille as he entered the drawing-room
recognized the shiningfattish bald head of the terrible man.
Gounsovski came to himbowingobsequioushis fat hands held out.
He was presented to Madame Gounsovskiwho was besprinkled with
jewels over her black silk gown. She had a muddy skin and
magnificent eyes. She also was tentatively effusive. "We waited
for youmonsieur she said, smirking timidly, with the careful
charm of a woman a little along in years who relies still on
infantine graces. As the recreant young man offered his apologies,
Ohwe know you are much occupiedMonsieur Rouletabille. My
husband said that to me only a moment ago. But he knew you would
come finally. In the end one always accepts my husband's
invitation." She said this with a fat smile of importance.

Rouletabille turned cold at this last phrase. He felt actual fear
in the presence of these two figuresso actrociously commonplace
in their horribledecent little drawing-room.

Madame continued:

But you have had rather a bad dinner already, through that dreadful
affair at General Trebassof's. Come into the dining-room.
Ah, so someone has told you?said Rouletabille. "Nonothanks;
I don't need anything more. You know what has happened?"

If you had come to dinner, perhaps nothing would have happened at
all, you know,said Gounsovski tranquillyseating himself again
on the cushions and considering his game of draughts through his
glasses. "Anywaycongratulations to Koupriane for being away from
there through his fear."

For Gounsovski there was only Koupriane! The life or death of
Trebassof did not occupy his mind. Only the acts and movements of
the Prefect of Police had power to move him. He ordered a
waiting-maid who glided into the apartment without making more noise
than a shadow to bring a small stand loaded with zakouskis and
bottles of champagne close to the game-tableand he moved one of
his pawnssayingYou will permit me? This move is mine. I don't
wish to lose it.


Rouletabille ventured to lay his hand on the oilyhairy fist which
extended from a dubious cuff.

What is this you tell me? How could you have foreseen it?

It was easy to foresee everything,replied Gounsovskioffering
cigarsto foresee everything from the moment Matiew's place was
filled by Priemkof.

Well?questioned Rouletabillerecalling with some inquietude the
sight of the whipping in the guards' chapel.

Well, this Priemkof, between ourselves,(and he bent close to the
reporter's ear) "is no betteras a police-guard for Koupriane than
Matiew himself. Very dangerous. So when I learned that he took
Matiew's place at the datcha des IlesI thought there was sure to
be some unfortunate happening. But it was no affair of minewas
it? Koupriane would have been able to say to me'Mind your own
business.' I had gone far enough in warning him of the 'living
bombs.' They had been denounced to us by the same agency that
enabled us to seize the two living bombs (womenif you please!)
who were going to the military tribunal at Cronstadt after the
rebellion in the fleet. Let him recall that. That ought to make
him reflect. I am a brave man. I know he speaks ill of me; but I
don't wish him any harm. The interests of the Empire before all
else between us! I wouldn't talk to you as I do if I didn't know
the Tsar honors you with his favor. Then I invited you to dinner.
As one dines one talks. But you did not come. Andwhile you were
dining down there and while Priemkof was on guard at the datcha
that annoying affair Madame Gounsovski has spoken about happened."

Rouletabille had not sat downin spite of Madame Gounsovski's
insistences. He took the box of cigars brusquely out of the hand
of the Chief of the Secret Servicewho had continued tendering
themfor this detail of hospitality only annoyed his moodwhich
had been dark enough for hours and was now deepened by what the
other had just said. He comprehended only one thingthat a man
named Priemkofwhom he had never heard spoken ofas determined as
Matiew to destroy the generalhad been entrusted by Koupriane
with the guard of the datcha des Iles. It was necessary to warn
Koupriane instantly.

How is it that you have not done so already, yourself, Monsieur
Gounsovski? Why wait to speak about it to me? It is unimaginable.

Pardon, pardon,said Gounsovskismiling softly behind his
goggles; "it is not the same thing."

No, no, it is not the same thing,seconded the lady with the
black silkbrilliant jewels and flabby chin. "We speak here to a
friend in the course of dinner-talkto a friend who is not of the
police. We never denounce anybody."

We must tell you. But sit down now,Gounsovski still insisted
lighting his cigar. "Be reasonable. They have just tried to
poison himso they will take time to breathe before they try
something else. Thentoothis poison makes me think they may
have given up the idea of living bombs. Thenafter allwhat is
to be will be."

Yes, yes,approved the ample dame. "The police never have been
able to prevent what was bound to happen. Butspeaking of this
Priemkofit remains between useh? Between just us?"


Yes, we must tell you now,Gounsovski slipped in softlythat it
will be much better not to let Koupriane know that you got the
information from me. Because then, you understand, he would not
believe you; or, rather, he would not believe me. That is why we
take these precautions of dining and smoking a cigar. We speak of
one thing and another and you do as you please with what we say.
But, to make them useful, it is absolutely necessary, I repeat, to
be silent about their source.(As he said thatGounsovski gave
Rouletabille a piercing glance through his gogglesthe first time
Rouletabille had seen such a look in his eyes. He never would have
suspected him capable of such fire.) "Priemkof continued Gounsovski
in a low voice, using his handkerchief vigorously, was employed
here in my home and we separated on bad termsthrough his fault
it is necessary to say. Then he got into Koupriane's confidence
by saying the worst he could of usmy dear little monsieur."

But what could he say? - servants' stories! my dear little
monsieur,repeated the fat dameand rolled her great magnificent
black eyes furiously. "Stories that have been treated as they
deserved at Courtcertainly. Madame Daquinthe wife of His
Majesty's head-cookwhom you certainly knowand the nephew of the
second Maid of Honor to the Empresswho stands very well with his
aunthave told us so; servants' stories that might have ruined us
but have not produced any effect on His Majestyfor whom we would
give our livesChrist knows. Wellyou understand now that if you
were to say to Koupriane'Gaspadine Gounsovski has spoken ill to
me of Priemkof' he would not care to hear a word further. Still
Priemkof is in the scheme for the living bombsthat is all I can
tell you; at leasthe was before the affair of the poisoning. That
poisoning is certainly very astonishingbetween us. It does not
appear to have come from withoutwhereas the living bombs will have
to come from without. And Priemkof is mixed up in it."

Yes, yes,approved Madame Gounsovski againhe is committed to
it. There have been stories about him, too. Other people as well
as he can tell tales; it isn't hard to do. He has got to make some
showing now if he is to keep in with Annouchka's clique.

Koupriane, our dear Koupriane,interrupted Gounsovskislightly
troubled at hearing his wife pronounce Annouchka's nameKoupriane
ought to be able to understand that this time Priemkof must bring
things off, or he is definitely ruined.

Priemkof knows it well enough,replied Madame as she re-filled
the glassesbut Koupriane doesn't know it; that is all we can tell
you. Is it enough? All the rest is mere gossip.

It certainly was enough for Rouletabille; he had had enough of it!
This idle gossip and these living bombs! These pinchbecks, these
whispering tale-tellers in their bourgeois, countrified setting;
these politico-police comhinations whose grotesque side was always
uppermost; while the terrible side, the Siberian aspect, prisons,
black holes, hangings, disappearances, exiles and deaths and
martyrdoms remained so jealously hidden that no one ever spoke of
them! All that weight of horror, between a good cigar and a little
glass of anisettemonsieurif you won't take champagne." Still
he had to drink before he lefttouch glasses in a healthpromise
to come againwhenever he wished - the house was open to him.
Rouletabille knew it was open to anybody - anybody who had a tale
to tellsomething that would send some other person to prison or
to death and oblivion. No guard at the entrance to check a visitor

-men entered Gounsovski's house as the house of a friendand he
was always ready to do you a servicecertainly!

He accompanied the reporter to the stairs. Rouletabille was just
about to risk speaking of Annouchka to himin order to approach
the subject of Natachawhen Gounsovski said suddenlywith a
singular smile:

By the way, do you still believe in Natacha Trebassof?

I shall believe in her until my death,Rouletabille thrust back;
but I admit to you that at this moment I don't know where she
has gone.

Watch the Bay of Lachtka, and come to tell me to-morrow if you
will believe in her always,replied Gounsovskiconfidentially
with a horrid sort of laugh that made the reporter hurry down
the stairs.

And now here was Priemkof to look after! Priemkof after Matiew!
It seemed to the young man that he had to contend against all the
revolutionaries not onlybut all the Russian police as well - and
Gounsovski himselfand Koupriane! Everybodyeverybody! But most
urgent was Priemkof and his living bombs. What a strange and almost
incomprehensible and harassing adventure this was between Nihilism
and the Russian police. Koupriane and Gounsovski both employed a
man they knew to be a revolutionary and the friend of revolutionaries.
Nihilismon its sideconsidered this man of the police force as one
of its own agents. In his turnthis manin order to maintain his
perilous equilibriumhad to do work for both the police and the
revolutionariesand accept whatever either gave him to do as it
camebecause it was necessary he should give them assurances of
his fidelity. Only imbecileslike Gaponelet themselves be hanged
or ended by being executedlike Azefbecause of their awkward
slips. But a Priemkofplaying both branches of the policehad a
good chance of living a long timeand a Gounsovski would die
tranquilly in his bed with all the solaces of religion.

Howeverthe young hearts hot with sinceritysheathed with dynamite
are mysteriously moved in the atrocious darkness of Holy Russiaand
they do not know where they will be sentand it is all one to them
because all they ask is to die in a mad spiritual delirium of hate
and love - living bombs!*

*In the trial after the revolt at Cronstadt two young women were
charged with wearing bombs as false bosoms.


At the corner of Aptiekarski-Pereoulok Rouletabille came in the way
of Kouprianewho was leaving for Pere Alexis's place andseeing
the reporterstopped his carriage and called that he was going
immediately to the datcha.

You have seen Pere Alexis?

Yes,said Koupriane. "And this time I have it on you. What I
told youwhat I foresawhas happened. But have you any news of
the sufferers? Aproposrather a curious thing has happened. I
met Kister on the Newsky just now."

The physician?

Yes, one of Trebassof's physicians whom I had sent an inspector to
his house to fetch to the datcha, as well as his usual associate,
Doctor Litchkof. Well, neither Litchkof nor he had been summoned.


They didn't know anything had happened at the datcha. They had not
seen my inspector. I hope he has met some other doctor on the way
and, in view of the urgency, has taken him to the datcha.

That is what has happened,replied Rouletabillewho had turned
very pale. " Stillit is strange these gentlemen had not been
notifiedbecause at the datcha the Trebassofs were told that the
general's usual doctors were not at home and so the police had
summoned two others who would arrive at once."

Koupriane jumped up in the carriage.

But Kister and Litchkof had not left their houses. Kister, who
had just met Litchkof, said so. What does this mean?

Can you tell me,asked Rouletabilleready now for the thunder-clap
that his question invitedthe name of the inspector you ordered to
bring them?

Priemkof, a man with my entire confidence.

Koupriane's carriage rushed toward the Isles. Late evening had
come. Alone on the deserted route the horses seemed headed for the
stars; the carriage behind seemed no drag upon them. The coachman
bent above themarms outas though he would spring into the ether.
Ahthe beautiful nightthe lovelypeaceful night beside the Neva
marred by the wild gallop of these maddened horses!

Priemkof! Priemkof! One of Gounsovski's men! I should have
suspected him,railed Koupriane after Rouletabille's explanations.
But now, shall we arrive in time?

They stood up in the carriageurging the coachmanexciting the
horses: " Scan! Scan! Fasterdouriak!" Could they arrive before
the "living bombs"? Could they hear them before they arrived? Ah
there was Eliaguine!

They rushed from the one bank to the other as though there were no
bridges in their insensate course. And their ears were strained
for the explosionfor the abomination now to comepreparing slyly
in the night so hypocritically soft under the cold glance of the
stars. SuddenlyStop, stop!Rouletabille cried to the coachman.

Are you mad!shouted Koupriane.

We are mad if we arrive like madmen. That would make the
catastrophe sure. There is still a chance. If we wish not to lose
it, then we must arrive easily and calmly, like friends who know
the general is out of danger.

Our only chance is to arrive before the bogus doctors. Either they
aren't there, or it already is all over. Priemkof must have been
surprised at the affair of the poisoning, but he has seized the
opportunity; fortunately he couldn't find his accomplices immediately.

Here is the datcha, anyway. In the name of heaven, tell your driver
to stop the horses here. If the 'doctors' are already there it is we
who shall have killed the general.

You are right.

Koupriane moderated his excitement and that of his driver and horses
and the carriage stopped noiselesslynot far from the datcha. Ermolai
came toward them.


Priemkof?faltered Koupriane.

He has gone again, Excellency.

How - gone again?

Yes,, but he has brought the doctors.

Koupriane crushed Rouletabille's wrist. The doctors were there!

Madame Trebassof is better,continued Ermolalwho understood
nothing of their emotion. "The general is going to meet them and
take them to his wife himself."

Where are they?

They are waiting in the drawing-room.

Oh, Excellency, keep cool, keep cool, and all is not lost,
implored the reporter.

Rouletabille and Koupriane slipped carefully into the garden.
Ermolai followed them.

There?inquired Koupriane.

There,Ermolai replied.

>From the corner where they wereand looking through the veranda
they could see the "doctors" as they waited.

They were seated in chairs side by sidein a corner of the
drawing-room from where they could see every-thing in the room and
a part of the gardenwhich they facedand could hear everything.
A window of the first-floor was open above their headsso that
they could hear any noise from there. They could not be surprised
from any sideand they held every door in view. They were talking
softly and tranquillylooking straight before them. They appeared
young. One had a pleasant facepale but smilingwith rather long
curly hair; the other was more angularwith haughty bearing and
grave facean eagle nose and glasses. Both wore long black coats
buttoned over their calm chests.

Koupriane and the reporterfollowed by Ermolaiadvanced with the
greatest precaution across the lawn. Screened by the wooden steps
leading to the veranda and by the vine-clad balustradethey got
near enough to hear them. Koupriane gave eager ear to the words
of these two young menwho might have been so rich in the many
years of life that naturally belonged to themand who were about
to die so horrible a death in destroying all about them. They
spoke of what time it wasof the softness of the night and the
beauty of the sky; they spoke of the shadows under the birch-trees
of the gulf shining in the late evening's fading golden lightof
the river's freshness and the sweetness of springtime in the North.
That is what they talked about. Koupriane murmuredThe assassins!

Now it was necessary to decide on actionand that necessity was
horrible. A false movementan awkwardnessand the "doctors"
would be warnedand everything lost. They must have the bombs
under their coats; there were certainly at least two "living bombs."
Their chestsas they breathedmust heave to and fro and their
hearts beat against an impending explosion.


Above on the bedroom floorthey heard the rapid arranging of the
roomsteps on the floor and a confusion of voices; shadows passed
across the window-space. Koupriane rapidly interrogated Ermolai
and learned that all the general's friends were there. The two
doctors had arrived only a couple of minutes before the Prefect of
Police and the reporter. The little doctor of Vassili-Ostrow had
already gonesaying there was nothing more for him to do when two
such celebrated specialists had arrived. Howeverin spite of their
celebrityno one had ever heard the names they gave. Koupriane
believed the little doctor was an accomplice. The most necessary
thing was to warn those in the room above. There was immediate
danger that someone would come downstairs to find the doctors and
take them to the generalor that the general would come down
himself to meet them. Evidently that was what they were waiting
for. They wished to die in his armsto make sure that this time
he did not escape them! Koupriane directed Ermolai to go into the
veranda and speak in a commonplace way to them at the threshold of
the drawing-room doorsaying that he would go upstairs and see if
he might now escort them to Madame Trebassof's room. Once in the
room abovehe could warn the others not to do anything but wait
for Koupriane; then Ermolai was to come down and say to the men
In just a moment, if you please.

Erinolai crept back as far as the lodgeand then came quite
normally up the pathletting the gravel crunch under his
countrified footsteps. He was an intelligent manand grasped with
extraordinary coolness the importance of the plan of campaign.
Easily and naturally he mounted the veranda stepspaused at the
threshold of the drawing-roommade the remark he had been told to
makeand went upstairs. Koupriane and Rouletabille now watched
the bedroom windows. The flitting shadows there suddenly became
motionless. All moving about ceased; no more steps were heard
nothing. And that sudden silence made the two "doctors" raise
their faces toward the ceiling. Then they exchanged an aroused
glance. This change in the manner of things above was dangerous.
Koupriane mutteredThe idiots!It was such a blow for those
upstairs to learn they walked over a mine ready to explode that
it evidently had paralyzed their limbs. Happily Ermolai came
down almost immediately and said to the "doctors" in his very best
domestic manner:

Just a second, messieurs, if you please.

He did it still with utter naturalness. And he returned to the
ledge before he rejoined Koupriane and Rouletabille by way of the
lawn. Rouletabilleentirely coolquite master of himselfas calm
now as Koupriane was nervoussaid to the Prefect of Police:

We must act now, and quickly. They are commencing to be suspicious.
Have you a plan?

Here is all I can see,said Koupriane. "Have the general come
down by the narrow servants' stairwayand slip out of the house
from the window of Natacha's sitting-roomwith the aid of a twisted
sheet. Matrena Petrovna will come to speak to them during this
time; that will keep them patient until the general is out of danger.
As soon as Matrena has withdrawn into the gardenI will call my men
who will shoot them from a distance."

And the house itself? And the general's friends?

Let them try to get away, too, by the servants' stairway and jump
from the window after the general. We must try something. Say that
I have them at the muzzle of my revolver.


Your plan won't work,said Rouletabilleunless the door of
Natacha's sitting-room that opens on the drawing-room is closed.

It is. I can see from here.

And unless the door of the little passage-way before that staircase
that opens into the drawing-room is closed also, and you cannot see
it from here.

That door is open,said Ermolai.

Koupriane swore. But he recovered himself promptly.

Madame Trebassof will close the door when she speaks to them.

It's impracticable,said the reporter. "That will arouse their
suspicions more than ever. Leave it to me; I have a plan."

What?

I have time to execute it, but not to tell you about it. They
have already waited too long. I shall have to go upstairs, though.
Ermolai will need to go with me, as with a friend of the family.

I'll go too.

That would give the whole show away, if they saw you, the Prefect
of Police.

Why, no. If they see me - and they know I ought to be there - as
soon as I show myself to them they will conclude I don't know
anything about it.

You are wrong.

It is my duty. I should be near the general to defend him until
the last.

Rouletabille shrugged his shoulders before this dangerous heroism
but he did not stop to argue. He knew that his plan must succeed
at onceor in five minutes at the latest there would be only ruins
the dead and the dying in the datcha des Iles.

Still he remained astonishingly calm. In principle he had admitted
that he was going to die. The only hope of being saved which
remained to them rested entirely upon their keeping perfectly cool
and upon the patience of the living bombs. Would they still have
three minutes' patience?

Ermolai went ahead of Koupriane and Rouletabille. At the moment
they reached the foot of the veranda steps the servant said loudly
repeating his lesson:

Oh, the general is waiting for you, Excellency. He told me to
have you come to him at once. He is entirely well and Madame
Trebassof also.

When they were in the verandahe added:

She is to see also, at once, these gentlemen, who will be able to
tell her there is no more danger.

And all three passed while Koupriane and Rodetabille vaguely saluted


the two conspirators in the drawing-room. It was a decisive moment.
Recognizing Kouprianethe two Nihilists might well believe
themselves discoveredas the reporter had saidand precipitate
the catastrophe. HoweverErmolaiKoupriane and Rouletabille
climbed the stairs to the bedroom like automatonsnot daring to
look behind themand expecting the end each instant. But neither
stirred. Ermolai went down againby Rouletabille's order
normallynaturallytranquilly. They went into Matrena Petrovna's
chamber. Everybody was there. It was a gathering of ghosts.

Here was what had happened above. That the "doctors" still remained
belowthat they had not been received instantlyin briefthat the
catastrophe had been delayed up to now was due to Matrena Petrovna
whose watchful lovelike a watch-dogwas always ready to scent
danger. These two "doctors" whose names she did not knowwho
arrived so lateand the precipitate departure of the little doctor
of Vassili-Ostrow aroused her watchfulness. Before allowing them
to come upstairs to the general she resolved to have a look at them
herself downstairs. She arose from her bed for that; and now her
presentiment was justified. When she saw Ermolaisober and
mysteriousenter with Koupriane's messageshe knew instinctively
before he spokethat there were bombs in the house. When Ermolai
did speak it was a blow for everybody. At first sheMatrena
Perovnahad been a frightenedfoolish figure in the big flowered
dressing-gown belonging to Feodor that she had wrapped about her in
her haste. When Ermolai leftthe generalwho knew she only
trembled for himtried to reassure herandin the midst of the
frightened silence of all of themsaid a few words recalling the
failure of all the previous attempts. But she shook her head and
trembledshaking with fear for himin agony at the thought that
she could do nothing there above those living bombs but wait for
them to burst. As to the friendsalready their limbs were ruined
absolutely ruinedin very truth. For a moment they were quite
incapable of moving. The jolly Councilor of EmpireIvan Petrovitch
had no longer a lively tale to telland the abominable prospect of
this horrible mix-upright at hand rendered him much less gay
than in his best hours at Cubat's place. And poor Thaddeus
Tchitchnikoff was whiter than the snow that covers old Lithuania's
fields when the winter's chase is on. Athanase Georgevitch himself
was not brilliantand his sanguine face had quite changedas
though he had difficulty in digesting his last masterpiece with
knife and fork. Butin justice to themthat was the first
instantaneous effect. No one could learn like tnatall af a
suddenthat they were about to die in an indiscriminate slaughter
without the heart being stopped for a little. Ermolai's words had
turned these amiable loafers into waxen statuesbutlittle by
littletheir hearts commenced to beat again and each suggested
some way of preventing the disaster - all of them sufficiently
incoherent - while Matrena Petrovna invoked the Virgin and at the
same time helped Feodor Feodorovitch adjust his sword and buckle
his belt; for the general wished to die in uniform.

Athanase Georgevitchhis eyes sticking out of his head and his body
bent as though he feared the Nihlists just below him might perceive
his tall form - through the floorno doubt - proposed that they
should throw themselves out of the windoweven at the cost of
broken legs. The saddened Councilor of Empire declared that project
simply idioticfor as they fell they would be absolutely at the
disposal of the Nihilistswho would be attracted by the noise and
would make a handful of dust of them with a single gesture through
the window. Thaddeus Tchitchnikoffwho couldn't think of anything
at allblamed Koupriane and the rest of the police for not having
devised something. Why hadn't they already got rid of these
Nihilists? After the frightened silence they had kept at first


now they all spoke at oncein low voiceshoarse and rapidwith
shortened breathmaking wild movements of the arms and headand
walked here and there in the chamber quite without motivebut very
softly on tiptoegoing to the windowsreturninglistening at the
doorspeering through the key-holesexchanging absurd suggestions
full of the wildest imaginings. "If we should ... if ... if

-everybody speaking and everybody making signs for the others to
be quiet. Lower! If they hear uswe are lost." And Koupriane
who did not comeand his policewho themselves had brought two
assassins into the houseand were not able now to make them leave
without having everybody jump! They were certainly lost. There
was nothing left but to say their prayers. They turned to the
general and Matrena Petrovnawho were wrapped in a close embrace.
Feodor had taken the poor disheveled head of the good Matrena
between his hands and pressed it upon his shoulders as he embraced
her. He saidRest quietly against my heart, Matrena Petrovna.
Nothing can happen to us except what God wills.
At that sight and that remark the others grew ashamed of their
confusion. The harmony of that couple embracing in the presence
of death restored them to themselvesto their courageand their
Nitchevo.Athanase GeorgevitchIvan Petrovitch and Thaddeus
Tchitchnikoff repeated after Matrena PetrovnaAs God wills.
And then they said "Nitchevo! Nitchevo!* We will all die with
youFeodor Feodorovitch." And they all kissed one another and
clasped one another in their armstheir eyes dim with love one for
anotheras at the end of a great banquet when they had eaten and
drunk heavily in honor of one another.

*"What does it matter!"

Listen. Someone is coming up the stairs,whispered Matrenawith
her keen earand she slipped from the restraint of her husband.

Breathlessthey all hurried to the door opening on the landing
but with steps as light "as though they walked on eggs." All four
of them were leaning over there close by the doorhardly daring
to breathe. They heard two men on the stairs. Were they Koupriane
and Rouletabilleor were they the others? They had revolvers in
their hands and drew back a little when the footsteps sounded near
the door. Behind them Trebassof was quietly seated in his chair.
The door was opened and Koupriane and Rouletabille perceived these
death-like figuresmotionless and mute. No one dared to speak or
make a movement until the door had been closed. But then:

Well? Well? Save us! Where are they? Ah, my dear little
domovoi-doukh, save the general, for the love of the Virgin!

Tsst! tsst! Silence.

Rouletabillevery palebut calmspoke:

The plan is simple. They are between the two staircases, watching
the one and the other. I will go and find them and make them mount
the one while you descend by the other.

Caracho! That is simple enough. Why didn't we think of it sooner?
Because everybody lost his head except the dear little domovoi-doukh!

But here something happened Rouletabille had not counted on. The
general rose and saidYou have forgotten one thing, my young
friend; that is that General Trebassof will not descend by the


servants' stairway.

His friends looked at him in stupefactionand asked if he had gone
mad.

What is this you say, Feodor?implored Matrena.

I say,insisted the generalthat I have had enough of this
comedy, and that since Monsieur Koupriane has not been able to
arrest these men, and since, on their side, they don't seem to
decide to do their duty, I shall go myself and put them out of my
house.

He started a few stepsbut had not his cane and suddenly he
tottered. Matrena Petrovna jumped to him and lifted him in her
arms as though he were a feather.

Not by the servants' stairway, not by the servants' stairway,
growled the obstinate general.

You will go,Matrena replied to himby the way I take you.

And she carried him back into the apartment while she said quickly
to Rouletabille:

Go, little domovoi! And God protect us!

Rouletabille disappeared at once through the door to the main
staircaseand the group attended by Kouprianepassed through the
dressing-room and the general's chamberMatrena Petrovna in the
lead with her precious burden. Ivan Petrovitch had his hand
already on the famous bolt which locked the door to the servants'
staircase when they all turned at the sound of a quick step behind
them. Rouletabille had returned.

They are no longer in the drawing-room.

Not in the drawing-room! Where are they, then?

Rouletabille pointed to the door they were about to open.

Perhaps behind that door. Take care!

All drew back.

But Ermolai ought to know where they are,exclaimed Koupriane.
Perhaps they have gone, finding out they were discovered.

They have assassinated Ermolai.

Assassinated Ermolai!

I have seen his body lying in the middle of the drawing-room as I
leaned over the top of the banister. But they were not in the room,
and I was afraid you would run into them, for they may well be hidden
in the servants' stairway.

Then open the window, Koupriane, and call your men to deliver us.

I am quite willing,replied Koupriane coldlybut it is the
signal for our deaths.

Well, why do they wait so to make us die?muttered Feodor
Feodorovitch. "I find them very tedious about itfor myself.


What are you doingIvan Petrovitch?"

The spectral figure of Ivan Petrovitchbent beside the door of the
stairwayseemed to be hearing things the others could not catch
but which frightened them so that they fled from the general's
chamber in disorder. Ivan Petrovitch was close on themhis eyes
almost sticking from his headhis mouth babbling:

They are there! They are there!

Athanase Georgevitch open a window wildly and said:

I am going to jump.

But Thaddeus Tchitchnikofl' stopped him with a word. "For meI
shall not leave Feodor Feodorovitch."

Athanase and Ivan both felt ashamedand tremblingbut bravethey
gathered round the general and saidWe will die together, we will
die together. We have lived with Feodor Feodorovitch, and we will
die with him.

What are they waiting for? What are they waiting for?grumbled
the general.

Matrena Petrovna's teeth chattered. "They are waiting for us to
go down said Koupraine.

Very welllet us do it. This thing must end said Feodor.

Yesyes they all said, for the situation was becoming
intolerable; enough of this. Go on down. Go on down. Godthe
Virgin and Saints Peter and Paul protect us. Let us go."

The whole groupthereforewent to the main staircasewith the
movements of drunken menfantastic waving of the armsmouths
speaking all togethersaying things no one but themselves
understood. Rouletabille had already hurriedly preceded themwas
down the staircasehad time to throw a glance into the drawing-room
stepped over Ermolai's huge corpseentered Natacha's sitting-room
and her chamberfound all these places deserted and bounded back
into the veranda at the moment the others commenced to descend
the steps around Feodor Feodorovitch. The reporter's eyes searched
all the dark corners and had perceived nothing suspicious whenin
the verandahe moved a chair. A shadow detached itself from it
and glided under the staircase. Rouletabille cried to the group
on the stairs.

They are under the staircase!

Then Rouletabille confronted a sight that he could never forget all
his life.

At this crythey all stoppedafter an instinctive move to go back.
Feodor Feodorovitchwho was still in Matrena Petrovna's armscried:

Vive le Tsar!

And thenthose whom the reporter half expected to see flee
distractedone way and anotheror to throw themselves madly from
the height of the stepsabandoning Feodor and Matrenagathered
themselves instead by a spontaneous movement around the general
like a guard of honorin battlearound the flag. Koupriane
marched ahead. And they insisted also upon descending the terrible


steps slowlyand sang the Bodje tsara Kranithe national anthem!

With an overwhelming roarwhich shocked earth and sky and the ears
of Rouletabillethe entire house seemed lifted in the air; the
staircase rose amid flame and smokeand the group which sang the
Bodje tsara Krani disappeared in a horrible apotheosis.

THE MARSHES

They ascertained the next day that there had been two explosions
almost simultaneousone under each staircase. The two Nihilists
when they felt themselves discoveredand watched by Ermolaihad
thrown themselves silently on him as he turned his back in passing
themand strangled him with a piece of twine. Then they separated
each to watch one of the staircasesreasoning that Koupriane and
General Trebassof would have to decide to descend.

The datcha des Iles was nothing now but a smoking ruin. But from
the fact that the living bombs had exploded separately the
destructive effect was diffusedand although there were numerous
woundedas in the case of the attack on the Stolypine datchaat
least no one was killed outright; that isexcepting the two
Nihilistsof whom no trace could be found save a few rags.

Rouletabille had been hurled into the garden and he was glad enough
to escape soa little shakenbut without a scratch. The group
composed of Feodor and his friends were strangely protected by the
lightness of the datcha's construction. The iron staircasewhich
so to speakalmost hung to the two floorsbeing barely attached
at top and bottomraised under them and then threw them off as it
broke into a thousand piecesbut only afterby its very yielding
it had protected them from the first force of the bomb. They had
risen from the ruins without mortal wounds. Koupriane had a hand
badly burnedAthanase Georgevitch had his nose and cheeks seriously
hurtIvan Petrovitch lost an ear; the most seriously injured was
Thaddeus Tchitchnikoffboth of whose legs were broken.
Extraordinarily enoughthe first person who appearedrising from
the midst of the wreckagewas Matrena Petrovnastill holding
Feodor in her arms. She had escaped with a few burns and the
generalsaved again by the luck of the soldier whom Death does not
wantwas absolutely uninjured. Feodor gave shouts of joy. They
strove to quiet himbecauseafter allaround him some poor
wretches had been badly hurtas well as poor Ermolaiwho lay
there dead. The domestics in the basement had been more seriously
wounded and burned because the main force of the explosion had gone
downwards; which had probably saved the personages above.

Rouletabille had been taken with the other victims to a neighboring
datcha; but as soon as he had shaken himself free of that terrible
nightmare he escaped from the place. He really regretted that he
was not dead. These successive waves of events had swamped him;
and he accused himself alone of all this disaster. With acutest
anxiety he had inquired about the condition of each of "his victims."
Feodor had not been woundedbut now he was almost deliriousasking
every other minute as the hours crept on for Natachawho had not
reappeared. That unhappy girl Rouletabille had steadily believed
innocent. Was she a culprit? "Ahif she had only chosen to! If
she had had confidence he cried, raising anguished hands towards


heaven, 'none of all this need have happened. No one would have
attacked and no one would ever again attack the life of Trebassof.
For I was not wrong in claiming before Koupriane that the general's
life was in my hand, and I had the right to say to him, 'Life for
life! Give me Matiew's and I will give you the general's.' And now
there has been one more fruitless attempt to kill Feodor
Feodorovitch and it is Natacha's fault - that I swear, because she
would not listen to me. And is Natacha implicated in it? 0 my God
Rouletabille asked this vain question of the Divinityfor he
expected no more help in answering it on earth.

Natacha! Innocent or guiltywhere was she? What was she doing?
to know that! To know if one were right or wrong - and if one were
wrongto disappearto die!

Thus the unhappy Rouletabille muttered as he walked along the bank
of the Nevanot far from the ruins of the poor datchawhere the
joyous friends of Feodor Feodorovitch would have no more good
dinnersnever; so he soliloquizedhis head on fire.

Andall at oncehe recovered trace of the young girlthat trace
lost earliera trace left at her moment of flightafter the
poisoning and before the explosion. And had he not in that a
terrible coincidence? Because the poison might well have been only
in preparation for the final attackthe pretext for the tragic
arrival of the two false doctors. NatachaNatachathe living
mystery surrounded already by so many dead!

Not far from the ruins of the datcha Rouletabille soon made sure
that a group of people had been there the night beforecoming
from the woods near-byand returning to them. He was able to be
sure of this because the boundaries of the datcha had been guarded
by troops and police as soon as the explosion took placeunder
orders to keep back the crowd that hurried to Eliaguine. He looked
attentively at the grassthe fernsthe broken and trampled twigs.
Certainly a struggle had occurred there. He could distinguish
clearly in the soft earth of a narrow glade the prints of Natacha's
two little boots among all the large footprints.

He continued his search with his heart heavier and heavierhe had
a presentiment that he was on the point of discovering a new
misfortune. The footprints passed steadily under the branches along
the side of the Neva. From a bush he picked a shred of white cloth
and it seemed to him a veritable battle had taken place there.
Torn branches strewed the grass. He went on. Very close to the
bank he saw by examination of the soilwhere there was no more
trace of tiny heels and little solesthat the woman who had been
found there was carriedand carriedinto a boatof which the
place of fastening to the bank was still visible.

They have carried off Natacha,he cried in a surge of anguish.
bungler that I am, that is my fault too - all my fault - all my
fault! They wished to avenge Michael Nikolaievitch's death, for
which they hold Natacha responsible, and they have kidnapped her.

His eyes searched the great arm of the river for a boat. The river
was deserted. Not a sailnothing visible on the dead waters!
What shall I do? What shall I do? I must save her.

He resumed his course along the river. Who could give him any
useful information? He drew near a little shelter occupied by a
guard. The guard was speaking to an officer. Perhaps he had
noticed something during his watch that evening along the river.
That branch of the river was almost always deserted after the day


was over. A boat plying between these shores in the twilight would
certainly attract attention. Rouletabille showed the guard the
paper Koupriane had given him in the beginningand with the officer
(who turned out to be a police officer) as interpreterhe asked his
questions. As a matter of fact the guard had been sufficiently
puzzled by the doings and comings of a light boat whichafter
disappearing for an instantaround the bend of the riverhad
suddenly rowed swiftly out again and accosted a sailing-yacht which
appeared at the opening of the gulf. It was one of those small but
rapid and elegant sailing craft such as are seen in the Lachtka
regattas.

Lachtka! "The Bay of Lachtka!"

The word was a ray of light for the reporterwho recalled now the
counsel Gounsovski had given him. "Watch the Bay of Lachtkaand
tell me then if you still believe Natacha is innocent!" Gounsovski
must have known when he said this that Natacha had embarked in
company with the Nihilistsbut evidently he was ignorant that she
had gone with them under compulsionas their prisoner.

Was it too late to save Natacha? In any casebefore he diedhe
would try in every way possibleso as at least to have kept her
as much as he could from the disaster for which he held himself
responsible. He ran to the Barquenear the Point.

His voice was firm as he hailed the canoe of the floating restaurant
wherethanks to himKoupriane had been thwarted in impotent anger.
He had himself taken to just below Staria-Derevnia and jumped out
at the spot where he saw little Katharina disappear a few days
before. He landed in the mud and climbed on hands and knees up the
slope of a roadway which followed the bank. This bank led to the
Bay of Lachtkanot far from the frontier of Finland.

On Rouletabille's left lay the seathe immense gulf with slight
waves; to his right was the decaying stretch of the marsh. Stagnant
water stretching to the horizoncoarse grass and reedsan
extraordinary tangle of water-plantssmall ponds whose greenish
scum did not stir under the stiff breezewater that was heavy and
dirty. Along this narrow strip of land thrust thus between the
marshthe sky and the seahe hurriedwith many stumblingshis
eyes fixed on the deserted gulf. Suddenly he turned his head at
a singular noise. At first he didn't see anythingbut heard in
the distance a vague clamoring while a sort of vapor commenced to
rise from the marsh. And then he noticednearer himthe high
marsh grasses undulating. Finally he saw a countless flock rising
from the bed of the marshes. Beastsgroups of beastswhose horns
one saw like bayonetsjostled each other trying to keep to the firm
land. Many of them swam and on the backs of some were naked men
stark nakedwith hair falling to their shoulders and streaming
behind them like manes. They shouted war-cries and waved their
clubs. Rouletabille stopped short before this prehistoric invasion.
He would never have imagined that a few miles from the Newsky
Prospect he could have found himself in the midst of such a
spectacle. These savages had not even a loin-cloth. Where did they
come from with their herd? From what remote place in the world or
in old and gone history had they emerged? What was this new
invasion? What prodigious slaughter-house awaited these unruly
herds? They made a noise like thunder in the marsh. Here were a
thousand unkempt haunches undulating in the marsh like the ocean as
a storm approaches. The stark-naked men jumped along the route
waving their clubscrying gutturally in a way the beasts seemed
to understand. They worked their way out from the marsh and turned
toward the cityleaving behindto swathe the view of them a while


and then fade awaya pestilential haze that hung like an aura about
the nakedlong-haired men. It was terrible and magnificent. In
order not to be shoved into the waterRouletabille had climbed a
small rock that stood beside the routeand had waited there as
though petrified himself. When the barbarians had finally passed
by he climbed down againbut the route had become a bog of
trampled filth.

Happilyhe heard the noise of a primitive conveyance behind him.
It was a telega. Curiously primitivethe telega is four-wheeled
with two planks thrown crudely across the axle-trees. Rouletabille
gave the man who was seated in it thee roublesand jumped into
the planks beside himand the two little Finnish horseswhose
manes hung clear to the mudwent like the wind. Such crude
conveyances are necessary on such crude roadsbut it requires a
strong constitution to make a journey on them. Stillthe reporter
felt none of the joltinghe was so intent on the sea and the coast
of Lachtka Bay. The vehicle finally reached a wooden bridgeacross
a murky creek. As the day commenced to fade colorlessly
Rouletabille jumped off onto the shore and his rustic equipage
crossed to the Sestroriesk side. It was a corner of land black and
somber as his thoughts that he surveyed now. "Watch the Bay of
Lachtka!" The reporter knew that this desolate plainthis
impenetrable marshthis sea which offered the fugitive refuge in
innumerable fordshad always been a useful retreat for Nihilistic
adventurers. A hundred legends circulated in St. Petersburg about
the mysteries of Lachtka marshes. And that gave him his last hope.
Maybe he would be able to run across some revolutionaries to whom
he could explain about Natachaas prudently as possible; he might
even see Natacha herself. Gounsovski could not have spoken vain
words to him.

Between the Lachtkrinsky marsh and the strand he perceived on the
edge of the forests which run as far as Sestroriesk a little wooden
house whose walls were painted a reddish-brownand its roof green.
It was not the Russian isbabut the Finnish touba. Howevera
Russian sign announced it to be a restaurant. The young man had to
take only a few steps to enter it. He was the only customer there.
An old manwith glasses and a long gray beardevidently the
proprietor of the establishmentstood behind the counterpresiding
over the zakouskis. Rouletabille chose some little sandwiches which
he placed on a plate. He took a bottle of pivo and made the man
understand that laterif it were possiblehe would like a good hot
supper. The other made a sign that he understood and showed him
into an adjoining room which was used for diners. Rouletabille was
quite ready enough to die in the face of his failuresbut he did
not wish to perish from hunger.

A table was placed beside a window looking out over the sea and
over the entrance to the bay. It could not have been better and
with his eye now on the horizonnow on the estuary near-byhe
commenced to eat with gloomy avidity. He was inclined to feel sorry
for himselfto indulge in self-pity. "Just the sametwo and two
always make four he said to himself; but in my calculations
perhaps I have forgotten the surd. "Ahthere was a time when I
would not have overlooked anything. And even now I haven't
overlooked anythingif Natacha is innocent!" Having literally
scoured the platehe struck the table a great blow with his fist
and said: "She is!"

Just then the door opened. Rouletabille supposed the proprietor of
the place was entering.

It was Koupriane.


He rosestartled. He could not imagine by what mystery the Prefect
of Police had made his way therebut he rejoiced from the bottom
of his heartfor if he was trying to rescue Natacha from the hands
of the revolutionaries Koupriane would be a valuable ally. He
clapped the Prefect on the shoulder.

Well, well!he saidalmost joyfully. "I certainly did not expect
you here. How is your wound?"

Nitchevo! Not worth speaking about; it's nothing.

And the general and -! Ah, that frightful night! And those two
unfortunates who -?

Nitchevo! Nitchevo!

And poor Ermolai!

Nitchevo! Nitchevo! It is nothing.

Rouletabille looked him over. The Prefect of Police had an arm in
a slingbut he was bright and shining as a new ten-rouble piece
while hepoor Rouletabillewas so abominably soiled and depressed.
Where did he come from? Koupriane understood his look and smiled.

Well, I have just come from the Finland train; it is the best way.

But what can you have come here to do, Excellency?

The same thing as you.

Bah!exclaimed Rouletabilledo you mean to say that you have
come here to save Natacha?

How - to save her! I come to capture her.

To capture her?

Monsieur Rouletabille, I have a very fine little dungeon in Saints
Peter and Paul fortress that is all ready for her.

You are going to throw Natacha into a dungeon!

The Emperor's order, Monsieur Rouletabille. And if you see me
here in person it is simply because His Majesty requires that the
thing be done as respectfully and discreetly as possible.

Natacha in prison!cried the reporterwho saw in horror all
obstacles rising before him at one and the same time. "For what
reasonspray?"

The reason is simple enough. Natacha Feodorovna is the last word
in wickedness and doesn't deserve anybody's pity. She is the
accomplice of tbe revolutionaries and the instigator of all the
crimes against her father.

I am sure that you are mistaken, Excellency. But how have you
been guided to her?

Simply by you.

By me?


Yes, we lost all trace of Natacha. But, as you had disappeared
also, I made up my mind that you could only be occupied in searching
for her, and that by finding you I might have the chance to lay my
hands on her.

But I haven't seen any of your men?

Why, one of them brought you here.

Me?

Yes, you. Didn't you climb onto a telega?

Ah, the driver.

Exactly. I had arranged to have him meet me at the Sestroriesk
station. He pointed out the place where you dropped off, and here
I am.

The reporter bent his headred with chagrin. Decidedly the
sinister idea that he was responsible for the death of an innocent
man and all the ills which had followed out of it had paralyzed his
detective talents. He recognized it now. What was the use of
struggling! If anyone had told him that he would be played with
that way sometimeheRouletabille! he would have laughed heartily
enough - then. But nowwellhe wasn't capable of anything further.
He was his own most cruel enemy. Not only was Natacha in the hands
of the revolutionaries through his faultby his abominable error
but worse yetin the very moment when he wished to save herhe
foolishlynaivelyhad conducted the police to the very spot where
they should have been kept away. It was the depth of his
humiliation; Koupriane really pitied the reporter.

Come, don't blame yourself too much,said he. "We would have
found Natacha without you; Gounsovski notified us that she was going
to embark in the Bay of Lachtka this evening with Priemkof."

Natacha with Priemkof!exclaimed Rouletabille. "Natacha with the
man who introduced the two living bombs into her father's house! If
she is with himExcellencyit is because she is his prisonerand
that alone will be sufficient to prove her innocence. I thank the
Heaven that has sent you here."

Koupriane swallowed a glass of vodkapoured another after itand
finally deigned to translate his thought:

Natacha is the friend of these precious men and we will see them
disembark hand in hand.

Your men, then, haven't studied the traces of the struggle that
'these precious men' have had on the banks of the Neva before they
carried away Natacha?

Oh, they haven't been hoodwinked. As a matter of fact, the struggle
was quite too visible not to have been done for appearances' sake.
What a child you are! Can't you see that Natacha's presence in the
datcha had become quite too dangerous for that charming young girl
after the poisoning of her father and step-mother failed and at the
moment when her comrades were preparing to send General Trebassof a
pleasant little gift of dynamite? She arranged to get away and yet
to appear kidnapped. It is too simple.

Rouletabille raised his head.


There is something simpler still to imagine than the culpability
of Natacha. It is that Priemkof schemed to pour the poison into
the flask of vodka, saying to himself that if the poison didn't
succeed at least it would make the occasion for introducing his
dynamite into the house in the pockets of the 'doctors' that they
would go to find.

Koupriane seized Rouletabille's wrist and threw some terrible words
at himlooking into the depths of his eyes:

It was not Priemkof who poured the poison, because there was no
poison in the flask.

Rouletabilleas he heard this extraordinary declarationrose
more startled than he had ever been in the course of this startling
campaign.

If there was no poison in the flaskthe poison must have been
poured directly into the glasses by a person who was in the kiosk!
Nowthere were only four persons in the kiosk: the two who were
poisoned and Natacha and himselfRouletabille. And that kiosk
was so perfectly isolated that it was impossible for any other
persons than the four who were there to pour poison upon the table.

But it is not possible!he cried.

It is so possible that it is so. Pere Alexis dedared that there
is no poison in the flask, and I ought to tell you that an analysis
I had made after his bears him out. There was no poison, either,
in the small bottle you took to Pere Alexis and into which you
yourself had poured the contents of Natacha's glass and yours; no
trace of poison excepting in two of the four glasses, arsenate of
soda was found only on the soiled napkins of Trebassof and his wife
and in the two glasses they drank from.

Oh, that is horrible,muttered the stupefied reporter; "that is
horriblefor then the poisoner must be either Natacha or me."

I have every confidence in you,declared Koupriane with a great
laugh of satisfactionstriking him on the shoulder. "And I arrest
Natachaand you who love logic ought to be satisfied now."

Rouletabille hadn't a word more to say. He sat down again and let
his head fall into his handslike one sleep has seized.

Ah, our young girls; you don't know them. They are terrible,
terrible!said Kouprianelighting a big cigar. "Much more
terrible than the boys. In good families the boys still enjoy
themselves; but the girls - they read! It goes to their heads.
They are ready for anything; they know neither father nor mother.
Ahyou are a childyou cannot comprehend. Two lovely eyesa
melancholy aira softlow voiceand you are captured - you
believe you have before you simply an inoffensivegood little
girl. WellRouletabillehere is what I will tell you for your
instruction. There was the time of the Tchipoff attack; the
revolutionaries who were assigned to kill Tchipoff were disguised
as coachmen and footmen. Everthing had been carefully prepared
and it would seem that no one could have discovered the bombs in
the place they had been stored. Welldo you know the place where
those bombs were found? In the rooms of the governorof Wladmir's
daughter! Exactlymy little friendjust there! The rooms of
the governor's daughterMademoiselle Alexeieiv. Ahthese young
girls! Besidesit was this same Mademoiselle Alexeieiv whoso
prettilypierced the brain of an honest Swiss merchant who had the


misfortune to resemble one of our ministers. If we had hanged that
charming young girl earliermy dear Monsieur Rouletabillethat
last catastrophe might have been avoided. A good rope around the
neck of all these little females - it is the only waythe only
way!"

A man entered. Rouletabille recognized the driver of the telega.
There were some rapid words between the Chief and the agent. The
man closed the shutters of the roombut through the interstices
they would be able to see what went on outside. Then the agent left;
Kouprianeas he pushed aside the table that was near the window
said to the reporter:

You had better come to the window; my man has just told me the boat
is drawing near. You can watch an interesting sight. We are sure
that Natacha is still aboard. The yacht, after the explosion at
the datcha, took up two men who put off to it in a canoe, and since
then it has simply sailed back and forth in the gulf. We have taken
our precautions in Finland the same as here and it is here they are
going to try to disembark. Keep an eye on them.

Koupriane was at his post of observation. Evening slowly fell.
The sky was growing grayish-blacka tint that blended with the
slate-colored sea. To those on the bankthe sound of the men
about to die came softly across the water. There was a sail far
out. Between the strand and the touba where Koupriane watchedwas
a ridgea windowwhichhoweverdid not hide the shore or the bay
from the prefect of policebecause at the height where he was his
glance passed at an angle above it. But from the sea this ridge
entirely hid anyone who lay in ambush behind it. The reporter
watched fifty moujiks flat on their stomachs crawling up the ridge
behind two of their number whose heads alone topped the ridge. In
the line of gaze taken by those two heads was the white sail
looming much larger now. The yacht was heeled in the water and
glided with real eleganceheading straight on. Suddenlyjust
when they supposed she was coming straight to shorethe sails fell
and a canoe was dropped over the side. Four men got into it; then
a woman jumped lightly down a little gangway into the canoe. It
was Natacha. Koupriane had no difficulty in recognizing her through
the gathering darkness.

Ah, my dear Monsieur Rouletabille,said hesee your prisoner of
the Nihilists. Notice how she is bound. Her thongs certainly are
causing her great pain. These revolutionaries surely are brutes!

The truth was that Natacha had gone quite readily to the rudder and
while the others rowed she steered the light boat to the place on
the beach that had been pointed out to her. Soon the prow of the
canoe touched the sands. There did not seem to be a soul about
and that was the conclusion the men in the canoe who stood up
looking aroundseemed to reach. They jumped outand then it was
Natacha's turn. She accepted the hand held out to hertalking
pleasantly with the men all the time. She even turned to press the
hand of one of them. The group came up across the beach. All this
time the watchers in the little eating-house could see the false
moujikswho had wriggled on their stomachs to the very edge of the
ridgehold ing themselves ready to spring.

Behind his shutterKoupriane could not restrain an exclamation of
triumph; he gradually identified some of the figures in the group
and muttered:

Eh! eh! There is Priemkof himself and the others. Gounsovski is
right and he certainly is well-informed; his system is decidedly a


good one. What a net-full!

He hardly breathed as he watched the outcome. He could discern
elsewherebeside the bayflat on the groundconcealed by the
slightest elevation of the soilother false moujiks. The wood of
Sestroriesk was watched in the same way. The group of
revolutionaries who strolled behind Natacha stopped to confer. In
three - maybe two - minutesthey would be surrounded - cut off
taken in the trap. Suddenly a gunshot sounded in the nightand
the groupwith startled speedturned in their tracks and made
silently for the seawhile from all directions poured the concealed
agents and threw themselves into the pursuitjostling each other
and crying after the fugitives. But the cries became cries of rage
for the group of revolutionaries gained the beach. They saw Natacha
who was held up by Priemkof himselfreject the aid of the Nihilist
who did not wish to abandon herin order that he might save himself.
She made him go and seeing that she was going to be takenstopped
short and waited for the enemy stoicallywith folded arms.
Meanwhileher three companions succeeded in throwing themselves
into the canoe and plied the oars hard while Koupriane's menin
the water up to their chestsdischarged their revolvers at the
fugitives. The men in the canoefearing to wound Natachamade
no reply to the firing. The yacht had sails up by the time they
drew alongsideand made off like a bird toward the mysterious
fords of Finlandaudaciously hoisting the black flag of the
Revolution.

MeantimeKoupriane's agentstrembling before his angergathered
at the eating-house. The Prefect of Police let his fury loose on
them and treated them like the most infamous of animals. The
capture of Natacha was little comfort. He had planned for the whole
bagand his men's stupidity took away all his self-control. If he
had had a whip at hand he would have found prompt solace for his
mined hopes. Natachastanding in a cornerwith her face singularly
calmwatched this extraordinary scene that was like a menagerie in
which the tamer himself had become a wild beast. From another
cornerRouletabille kept his eyes fixed on Natacha who ignored him.
Ahthat girlsphinx to them all! Even to him who thought a while
ago that he could read things invisible to other vulgar men in her
featuresin her eyes! The impassive face of that girl whose father
they had tried to assassinate only a few hours before and who had
just pressed the hand of Priemkofthe assassin! Once she turned
her head slightly toward Rouletabille. The reporter then looked
towards her with increased eagernesshis eyes burningas though
he would say: "SurelyNatachayou are not the accomplice of your
father's assassins; surely it was not you who poured the poison!"

But Natacha's glance passed the reporter coldly over. Ahthat
mysteriouscold maskthe mouth with its bitterimpudent smile
an atrocious smile which seemed to say to the reporter: "If it is
not I who poured the poisonthen it is you!"

It was the visage common enough to the daughters whom Koupriane had
spoken of a little while beforethe young girls who readand
their reading doneset themselves to accomplish some terrible
thingsome thing because of whichfrom time to timethey place
stiff ropes around the necks of these young females.

FinallyKoupriane's frenzy wore itself out and he made a sign.
The men filed out in dismal silence. Two of them remained to
guard Natacha. From outside came the sounds of a carriage from
Sestroriesk ready to convey the girl to the Dungeons of Sts. Peter
and Paul. A final gesture from the Prefect of Police and the
rough bands of the two guards seized the prisoner's frail wrists.


They hustled her alongthrust her outsidejamming her against
the doorwayventing thus their anger at the reproaches of their
chief. A few seconds later the carriage departednot to stop
until the fortress was reached with the trickling tombs under the
bed of theriver where young girls about to die are confined - who
have read too muchwithout entirely understandingas Monsieur
Kropotkine says.

Koupriane prepared to leave in turn. Rouletabille stopped him.

Excellency, I wish you to tell me why you have shown such anger
to your men just now.

They are brute beasts,cried the Chief of Policequite beside
himself again. "They have made me miss the biggest catch of my
life. They threw themselves on the group two minutes too early.
Some of them fired a gun that they took for the signal and that
served to warn the Nihilists. But I will let them all rot in prison
until I learn which one fired that shot."

You needn't look far for that,said Rouletabille. "I did it."

You! Then you must have gone outside the touba?

Yes, in order to warn them. But still I was a little late, since
you did take Natacha.

Koupriane's eyes blazed.

You are their accomplice in all this,he hurled at the reporter
and I am going to the Tsar for permission to arrest you.

Hurry, then, Excellency,replied the reporter coldlybecause
the Nihilists, who also think they have a little account to settle
with me, may reach me before you.

And he saluted.

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU

At the hotel a note from Gounsovski: "Don't forget this time to come
to-morrow to have luncheon with me. Warmest regards from Madame
Gounsovski." Then a horriblesleepless nightshaken with echoes
of explosions and the clamor of the wounded; and the solemn shade
of Pere Alexisstretching out toward Rouletabille a phial of poison
and sayingEither Natacha or you!Thenrising among the shades
the bloody form of Michael Nikolaievitch the Innocent!

In the morning a note from the Marshal of the Court.

Monsieur le Marechal had no particular good newsevidentlyfor in
terms quite without enthusiasm he invited the young man to luncheon
for that same dayrather earlyat middayas he wished to see him
once more before he left for France. "I see said Rouletabille to
himself; Monsieur le Marechal pronounces my expulsion from the
country "- and he forgot once more the Gounsovski luncheon. The
meeting-place named was the great restaurant called the Bear.
Rouletabille entered it promptly at noon. He asked the schwitzar if


the Grand Marshal of the Court had arrivedand was told no one had
seen him yet. They conducted him to the huge main hallwhere
howeverthere was only one person. This manstanding before the
table spread with zakouskiswas stuffing himself. At the sound of
Rouletabille's step on the floor this sole famished patron turned
and lifted his hands to heaven as he recognized the reporter. The
atter would have given all the roubles in his pocket to have avoided
the recognition. But he was already face to face with the advocate
so celebrated for his table-featsthe amiable Athanase Georgevitch
his head swathed in bandages and dressings from the midst of which
one could perceive distinctly only the eyes andabove allthe
mouth.

How goes it, little friend?

How are you?

Oh, I! There is nothing the matter. In a week we shall have
forgotten it.

What a terrible affair,said the reporterI certainly believed
we were all dead men.

No, no. It was nothing. Nitchevo!

And poor Thaddeus Tchitchnikoff with his two poor legs broken!

Eh! Nitchevo! He has plenty of good solid splints that will make
him two good legs again. Nitchevo! Don't you think anything more
about that! It is nothing. You have come here to dine? A very
celebrated house this. Caracho!He busied himself to do the
honors. One would have said the restaurant belonged to him. He
boasted of its architecture and the cuisine "a la Francaise."

Do you know,he inquired confidentlya finer restaurant room
anywhere in the world?

In factit seemed to Rouletabille as he looked up into the high
glass arch that he was in a railway station decorated for some
illustrious travelerfor there were flowers and plants everywhere.
But the visitor whom the ball awaited was the Russian eaterthe
ogre who never failed to come to eat at The Bear. Pointing out the
lines of tables shining with their white cloths and bright silver
Athanase Georgevitchwith his mouth fullsaid:

Ah, my dear little French monsieur, you should see it at
supper-time, with the women, and the jewels, and the music. There
is nothing in France that can give you any idea of it, nothing! The
gayety - the champagne - and the jewels, monsieur, worth millions
and millions of roubles! Our women wear them all - everything they
have. They are decked like sacred shrines! All the family jewels

-from the very bottom of the caskets! it is magnificent,
thoroughly Russian - Muscovite! What am I saying? It is Asiatic.
Monsieur, in the evening, at a fete, we are Asiatic. Let me tell
you something on the quiet. You notice that this enormous dining
ail is surrounded by those windowed balconies. Each of those
windows belongs to a separate private room. Well, you see that
window there? - yes, there - that is the room of a grand duke - yes,
he's the one I mean - a very gay grand duke. Do you know, one
evening when there was a great crowd here - families, monsieur,
family parties, high-born families - the window of that particular
balcony was thrown open, and a woman stark naked, as naked as my
hand, monsieur, was dropped into the dining-hall and ran across it
full-speed. It was a wager, monsieur, a wager of the jolly grand

duke's, and the demoiselle won it. But what a scandal! Ah, don't
speak of it; that would be very bad form. But - sufficiently
Asiatic, eh? Truly Asiatic. And - something much more unfortunate

-you see that table? It happened the Russian New Year Eve, at
supper. All the beauty, the whole capital, was here. Just at
midnight the orchestra struck up the Bodje tsara krani* to
inaugurate the joyful Russian New Year, and everybody stood up,
according to custom, and listened in silence, as loyal subjects
should. Well, at that table, accompanying his family, there was a
young student, a fine fellow, very correct, and in uniform. This
unhappy young student, who had risen like everybody else, to listen
to the Bodje tsara krani, inadvertently placed his knee on a chair.
Truly that is not a correct attitude, monsieur, but really it was
no reason for killing him, was it now? Certainly not. Well, a brute
in uniform, an officer quite immaculately gotten-up, drew a revolver
from his pocket and discharged it at the student point-blank. You
can imagine the scandal, for the student was dead! There were Paris
journalists there, besides, who had never been there before, you see!
Monsieur Gaston Leroux was at that very table. What a scandal!
They had a regular battle. They broke carafes over the head of the
assassin - for he was neither more nor less than an assassin, a
drinker of blood - an Asiatic. They picked up the assassin, who was
bleeding all over, and carried him off to look after him. As to the
dead man, he lay stretched out there under a table-cloth, waiting
for the police - and those at the tables went on with their drinking.
Isn't that Asiatic enough for you? Here, a naked woman; there, a
corpse! And the jewels - and the champagne! What do you say to
that?
*The Russian national anthem.

His Excellency the Grand Marshal of the Court is waiting for you,
Monsieur.

Rouletabille shook hands with Athanase Georgevitchwho returned to
his zakouskisand followed the interpreter to the door of one of
the private rooms. The high dignitary was there. With a charm in
his politeness of which the high-born Russian possesses the secret
over almost everybody else in the worldthe Marshal intimated to
Rouletabille that he had incurred imperial displeasure.

You have been denounced by Koupriane, who holds you responsible
for the checks he has suffered in this affair.

Monsieur Koupriane is right,replied Rouletabilleand His
Majesty should believe him, since it is the truth. But don't fear
anything from me, Monsieur le Grand Marechal, for I shall not
inconvenience Monsieur Koupriane any further, nor anybody else.
shall disappear.

I believe Koupriane is already directed to vise your passport.

He is very good, and he does himself much harm.

All that is a little your fault, Monsieur Rouletabille. We
believed we could consider you as a friend, and you have never
failed, it appears, on each occasion to give your help to our
enemies.

Who says that?"

Koupriane. Oh, it is necessary to be one with us. And you are


not one with us. And if you are not for us you are against us.
You understand that, I think. That is the way it has to be. The
Terrorists have returned to the methods of the Nihilists, who
succeeded altogether too well against Alexander II. When I tell
you that they succeeded in placing their messages even in the
imperial palace...

Yes, yes,said Rouletabillevaguelyas though he were already
far removed from the contingencies of this world. "I know that
Czar Alexander II sometimes found under his napkin a letter
announcing his condemnation to death."

Monsieur, at the Chateau yesterday morning something happened that
is perhaps more alarming than the letter found by Alexander II
under his napkin.

What can it be? Have bombs been discovered?

No. It is a bizarre occurrence and almost unbelievable. The
eider downs, all the eider down coverings belonging to the imperial
family disappeared yesterday morning.*

* Historically authentic.
Surely not!

It is just as I say. And it was impossible to learn what had
become of them - until yesterday evening, when they were found again
in their proper places in the chambers. That is the new mystery!

Certainly. But how were they taken out?

Shall we ever know? All we found was two feathers, this morning,
in the boudoir of the Empress, which leads us to think that the
eider downs were taken out that way. I am taking the two feathers
to Koupriane.

Let me see them,asked the reporter.

Rouletabille looked them over and handed them back.

And what do you think the whole affair means?

We are inclined to regard it as a threat by the revolutionaries.
If they can carry away the eider downs, it would be quite as easy
for them to carry away...

The Imperial family? No, I don't think it is that.

What do you mean, then?

I? Nothing any more. Not only do I not think any more, but I
don't wish to. Tell me, Monsieur le Grand Marechal, it is useless,
I suppose, to try to see His Majesty before I go?

What good would it do, monsieur? We know everything now. This
Natacha that you defended against Koupriane is proved the culprit.
The last affair does not leave that in any reasonable doubt. And
she is taken care of from this time on. His Majesty wishes never
to hear Natacba spoken of again under any pretext.

And what are you going to do with that young girl?


The Tsar has decided that there shall not be any trial and that
the daughter of General Trebassof shall be sent, by administrative
order, to Siberia. The Tsar, monsieur, is very good, for he might
have had her hanged. She deserved it.

Yes, yes, the Tsar is very good.

You are very absorbed, Monsieur Rouletabille, and you are not
eating.

I have no appetite, Monsieur le Marechal. Tell me,- the Emperor
must be rather bored at Tsarskoie-Coelo?

Oh, he has plenty of work. He rises at seven o'clock and has a
light English luncheon - tea and toast. At eight o'clock he starts
and works till ten. From ten to eleven he promenades.

In the jail-yard?asked Rouletabille innocently.

What's that you say? Ahyou are an enfant terrible! Certainly
we do well to send you away. Until eleven he promenades in a
pathway of the park. From eleven to one he holds audience; luncheon
at one; then he spends the time until half-past two with his family."

What does he eat?

Soup. His Majesty is wonderfully fond of soup. He takes it at
every meal. After luncheon he smokes, but never a cigar - always
cigarettes, gifts of the Sultan; and he only drinks one liqueur,
Maraschino. At half-past two he goes out again for a little air

-always in his park; then he sets himself to work until eight
o'clock. It is simply frightful work, with heaps of useless
papers and numberless signatures. No secretary can spare him that
ungrateful bureaucratic duty. He must sign, sign, sign, and read,
read, read the reports. And it is work without any beginning or
end; as soon as some reports go, others arrive. At eight o'clock,
dinner, and then more signatures, working right up to eleven o'clock.
At eleven o'clock he goes to bed.
And he sleeps to the rhythmical tramp of the guards on patrol,
added Rouletabillebluntly.

0 young man, young man!

Pardon me, Monsieur le Grand Marechal,said the reporterrising;
I am, indeed, a disturbing spirit and I know that I have nothing
more to do in this country. You will not see me any more, Monsieur
le Grand Marechal; but before leaving I ought to tell you how much
I have been touched by the hospitality of your great nation. That
hospitality is sometimes a little dangerous, but it is always
magnificent. No other nation in the world knows like the Russians
how to receive a man, Your Excellency. I speak as I feel; and that
isn't affected by my manner of quitting you, for you know also how
to put a man to the door. Adieu, then; without any rancor. My
most respectful homage to His Majesty. Ah, just one word more!
You will recall that Natacha Feodorovna was engaged to poor Boris
Mourazoff, still another young man who has disappeared and who,
before disappearing, charged me to deliver to General Trebassof's
daughter this last token - these two little ikons. I entrust you
with this mission, Monsieur le Grand Marechal. Your servant,
Excellency.

Rouletabille re-descended the great Kaniouche. "Now said he to


himself, it is my turn to buy farewell presents." And he made his
way slowly across la Place des Grandes-Ecuries and the bridge of
the Katharine canal. He entered Aptiekarski-Pereoulok and pushed
open Pere Alexis's doorunder the archat the back of the obscure
court.

Health and prosperity, Alexis Hutch!

Ah, you again, little man! Well? Koupriane has let you know the
result of my analyses?

Yes, yes. Tell me, Alexis Hutch, you are sure you are not
mistaken? You don't think you might be mistaken? Think carefully
before you answer. It is a question of life or death.

For whom?

For me.

For you, good little friend! You want to make your old Pere
lexis laugh - or weep!

Answer me.

No, I couldn't be mistaken. The thing is as certain as that we
two are here - arsenate of soda in the stains on the two napkins
and traces of arsenate of soda in two of the four glasses; none
in the carafe, none in the little bottle, none in the two glasses.
I say it before you and before God.

So it is really true. Thank you, Alexis Hutch. Koupriane has not
tried to deceive me. There has been nothing of that sort. Well,
do you know, Alexis Hutch, who has poured the poison? It is she
or I. And as it is not I, it is she. And since it is she, well,
I am going to die!

You love her, then?inquired Pere Alexis.

No,replied Rouletahillewith a self-mocking smile. "NoI don't
love her. But if it is she who poured the poisonthen it was not
Michael Nikolaievitchand it is I who had Michael Nikolaievitch
killed. You can see now that therefore I must die. Show me your
finest images.

Ah, my little one, if you will permit your old Alexis to make you
a gift, I would offer you these two poor ikons that are certainly
from the convent of Troitza at its best period. See how beautiful
they are, and old. Have you ever seen so beautiful a Mother of
God? And this St. Luke, would you believe that the hand had been
mended, eh? Two little masterpieces, little friend! If the old
masters of Salonika returned to the world they would be satisfied
with their pupils at Troitza. But you mustn't kill yourself at
your age!

Come, bat ouclzka (little father), I accept your gift, and, if I
meet the old Salonican masters on the road I am going to travel,
I shan't fail to tell them there is no person here below who
appreciates them like a certain pere of Aptiekarski-Pereoulok,
Alexis Hutch.

So saying Rouletabille wrapped up the two little ikons and put them
in his pocket. The Saint Luke would be sure to appeal to his
friend Sainclair. As to the Mother of Godthat would be his dying
gift to the Dame en noir.


Ah, you are sad, little son; and your voice, as it sounds now,
hurts me.

Rouletabille turned his head at the sound of two moujiks who entered
carrying a long basket.

What do you want?demanded Pere Alexis in Russianand what is
that you are bringing in? Do you intend to fill that huge basket
with my goods? In that case you are very welcome and I am your
humble servant.

But the two chuckled.

Yes, yes, we have come to rid your shop of a wretched piece of
goods that litters it.

What is this you say?inquired the old mananxiouslyand
drawing near Rouletabille. "Little friendwatch these men; I
don't recognize their faces and I can't understand why they have
come here."

Rouletabille looked at the new-comerswho drew near the counter
after depositing their long basket close to the door. There was
a sarcastic and malicious mocking way about them that struck him
from the first. But while they kept up their jabbering with Pere
Alexis he filled his pipe and proceeded to light it. Just then the
door was pushed open again and three men enteredsimply dressed
like respectable small merchants. They also acted curiously and
looked all around the shop. Pere Alexis grew more and more alarmed
and the others pulled rudely at his beard.

I believe these men here have come to rob me,he cried in French.
What do you say, my son? -Shall I call the police?

Hold on,replied Rouletabille impassively. "They are all armed;
they have revolvers in their pockets."

Pere Alexis's teeth commenced to chatter. As he tried to get near
the door he was roughly pushed back and a final personage entered
apparently a gentlemanand dressed as suchsave that he wore a
visored leather cap.

Ah,said he at once in Frenchwhy, it is the young French
journalist of the Grand-Morskaia Hotel. Salutations and your good
health! I see with pleasure that you also appreciate the counsels
of our dear Pere Alexis.

Don't listen to him, little friend; I don't know him,cried
Alexis Hutch.

But the gentlenman of the Neva went on:

He is a man close to the first principles of science, and therefore
not far from divine; he is a holy man, whom it is good to consult at
moments when the future appears difficult. He knows how to read as
no one else can - Father John of Cronstadt excepted, to be strictly
accurate - on the sheets of bull-hide where the dark angels have
traced mysterious signs of destiny.

Here the gentleman picked up an old pair of bootswhich he threw
on the counter in the midst of the ikons.

Pere Alexis, perhaps these are not bull-hide, but good enough


cow-hide. Don't you want to read on this cow-hide the future of
this young man?

But here Rouletabille advanced to the gentlemanand blew an
enormous cloud of smoke full in his face.

It is useless, monsieur, said Rouletabille, to waste your time
and your breath. I have been waiting for you."

BEFORE THE REVOLUTIONARY TRIBUNAL

OnlyRouletabille refused to be put into the basket. He would not
let them disarm him until they promised to call a carriage. The
Vehicle rolled into the courtand while Pere Alexis was kept back
in his shop at the point of a revolverRouletabille quietly got
insmoking his pipe. The man who appeared to be the chief of the
band (the gentleman of the Neva) got in too and sat down beside him.
The carriage windows were shutteredpreventing all communication
with the outsideand only a tiny lantern lighted the interior.
They started. The carriage was driven by two men in brown coats
trimmed with false astrakhan. The dvornicks salutedbelieving it
a police affair. The concierge made the sign of the cross.

The journey lasted several hours without other incidents than those
brought about by the tremendous joltswhich threw the two
passengers inside one on top of the other. This might have made
an opening for conversation; and the "gentleman of the Neva" tried
it; but in vain. Rouletabille would not respond. At one moment
indeedthe gentlemanwho was growing boredbecame so pressing
that the reporter finally said in the curt tone he always used when
he was irritated:

I pray you, monsieur, let me smoke my pipe in peace.

Upon which the gentleman prudently occupied himself in lowering one
of the windowsfor it grew stifling.

Finallyafter much joltingthere was a stop while the horses were
changed and the gentleman asked Rouletabille to let himself be
blindfolded. "The moment has come; they are going to hang me
without any form of trial thought the reporter, and when, blinded
with the bandage, he felt himself lifted under the arms, there was
revolt of his whole being, that being which, now that it was on the
point of dying, did not wish to cease. Rouletabille would have
believed himself stronger, more courageous, more stoical at least.
But blind instinct swept all of this away, that instinct of
conservation which had no concern with the minor bravadoes of the
reporter, no concern with the fine heroic manner, of the determined
pose to die finely, because the instinct of conservation, which is,
as its rigid name indicates, essentially materialistic, demands
only, thinks of nothing but, to live. And it was that instinct
which made Rouletabille's last pipe die out unpuffed.

The young man was furious with himself, and he grew pale with the
fear that he might not succeed in mastering this emotion, he took
fierce hold of himself and his members, which had stiffened at
the contact of seizure by rough hands, relaxed, and he allowed
himself to be led. Truly, he was disgusted with his faintness and


weakness. He had seen men die who knew they were going to die.
His task as reporter had led him more than once to the foot of the
guillotine. And the wretches he had seen there had died bravely.
Extraordinarily enough, the most criminal had ordinarily met death
most bravely. Of course, they had had leisure to prepare themselves,
thinking a long time in advance of that supreme moment. But they
affronted death, came to it almost negligently, found strength even
to say banal or taunting things to those around them. He recalled
above all a boy of eighteen years old who had cowardly murdered an
old woman and two children in a back-country farm, and had walked
to his death without a tremor, talking reassuringly to the priest
and the police official, who walked almost sick with horror on
either side of him. Could he, then, not be as brave as that child?

They made him mount some steps and he felt that he had entered the
stuffy atmosphere of a closed room. Then someone removed the
bandage. He was in a room of sinister aspect and in the midst of
a rather large company.

Within these naked, neglected walls there were about thirty young
men, some of them apparently quite as young as Rouletabille, with
candid blue eyes and pale complexions. The others, older men, were
of the physical type of Christs, not the animated Christs of
Occidental painters, but those that are seen on the panels of the
Byzantine school or fastened on the ikons, sculptures of silver or
gold. Their long hair, deeply parted in the middle, fell upon
their shoulders in curl-tipped golden masses. Some leant against
the wall, erect, and motionless. Others were seated on the floor,
their legs crossed. Most of them were in winter coats, bought in
the bazaars. But there were also men from the country, with their
skins of beasts, their sayons, their touloupes. One of them had his
legs laced about with cords and was shod with twined willow twigs.
The contrast afforded by various ones of these grave and attentive
figures showed that representatives from the entire revolutionary
party were present. At the back of the room, behind a table, three
young men were seated, and the oldest of them was not more than
twenty-five and had the benign beauty of Jesus on feast-days,
canopied by consecrated palms.

In the center of the room a small table stood, quite bare and
without any apparent purpose.

On the right was another table with paper, pens and ink-stands. It
was there that Rouletabille was conducted and asked to be seated.
Then he saw that another man was at his side, who was required to
keep standing. His face was pale and desperate, very drawn. His
eyes burned somberly, in spite of the panic that deformed his
features Rouletabille recognized one of the unintroduced friends
whom Gounsovski had brought with him to the supper at Krestowsky.
Evidently since then the always-threatening misfortune had fallen
upon him. They were proceeding with his trial. The one who seemed
to preside over these strange sessions pronounced a name:

Annouchka!"

A door openedand Annouchka appeared.

Rouletabille hardly recognized hershe was so strangely dressed
like the Russian poorwith her under-jacket of red-flannel and
the handkerchief whichknotted under her chincovered all her
beautiful hair.

She immediately testified in Russian against the manwho protested
until they compelled him to be silent. She drew from her pocket


papers which were read aloudand which appeared to crush the
accused. He fell back onto his seat. He shivered. He hid his
head in his handsand Rouletabille saw the hands tremble. The
man kept that position while the other witnesses were heardtheir
testimony arousing murmurs of indignation that were quickly checked.
Annouchka had gone to take her place with the others against the
wallin the shadows which more and more invaded the roomat this
ending of a lugubrious day. Two windows reaching to the floor let
a wan light creep with difficulty through their dirty panesmaking
a vague twilight in the room. Soon nothing could be seen of the
motionless figures against the wallmuch as the faces fade in the
frescoes from which the centuries have effaced the colors in the
depths of orthodox convents.

Now someone from the depths of the shadow and the appalling silence
read something; the verdictdoubtless.

The voice ceased.

Then some of the figures detached themselves from the wall and
advanced.

The man who crouched near Rouletabille rose in a savage bound and
cried out rapidlywild wordssupplicating wordsmenacing words.

And then - nothing more but strangling gasps. The figures that had
moved out from the wall had clutched his throat.

The reporter saidIt is cowardly.

Annouchka's voicelowfrom the depths of shadowrepliedIt is
just.

But Rouletabille was satisfied with having said thatfor he had
proved to himself that he could still speak. His emotion had been
suchsince they had pushed him into the center of this sinister
and expeditious revolutionary assembly of justicethat he thought
of nothing but the terror of not being able to speak to themto
say something to themno matter whatwhich would prove to them
that he had no fear. Wellthat was over. He had not failed to
sayThat is cowardly.

And he crossed his arms. But he soon bad to turn away his head in
order not to see the use the table was put to that stood in the
center of the roomwhere it had seemed to serve no purpose.

They had lifted the manstill strugglingup onto the little table.
They placed a rope about his neck. Then one of the "judges one
of the blond young men, who seemed no older than Rouletabille,
climbed on the table and slipped the other end of the rope through
a great ring-bolt that projected from a beam of the ceiling. During
this time the man struggled futilely, and his death-rattle rose at
last though the continued noise of his resistance and its overcoming.
But his last breath came with so violent a shake of the body that
the whole death-apparatus, rope and ring-bolt, separated from the
ceiling, and rolled to the ground with the dead man.

Rouletabille uttered a cry of horror. You are assassins!" he
cried. But was the man surely dead? It was this that the pale
figures with the yellow hair set themselves to make sure of. He
was. Then they brought two sacks and the dead man was slipped
into one of them.

Rouletabille said to them:


You are braver when you kill by an explosion, you know.

He regretted bitterly that he had not died the night before in the
explosion. He did not feel very brave. He talked to them bravely
enoughbut he trembled as his time approached. That death
horrified him. He tried to keep from looking at the other sack. He
took the two ikonsof Saint Luke and of the Virginfrom his pocket
and prayed to them. He thought of the Lady in Black and wept.

A voice in the shadows said:

He is crying, the poor little fellow.

It was Annouclika's voice.

Rouletabille dried his tears and said:

Messieurs, one of you must have a mother.

But all the voices cried:

No, no, we have mothers no more!

They have killed them,cried some. "They have sent them to
Siberia cried others.

WellI have a mother still said the poor lad. I will not have
the opportunity to embrace her. It is a mother that I lost the day
of my birth and that I have found againbut - I suppose it is to
be said - on the day of my death. I shall not see her again. I
have a friend; I shall not see him again either. I have two little
ikons here for themand I am going to write a letter to each of
themif you will permit it. Swear to me that you will see these
reach them."

I swear it,saidin Frenchthe voice of Annouchka.

Thanks, madame, you are kind. And now, messieurs, that is all I
ask of you. I know I am here to reply to very grave accusations.
Permit me to say to you at once that I admit them all to he well
founded. Consequently, there need be no discussion between us.
I have deserved death and I accept it. So permit me not to concern
myself with what will be going on here. I ask of you simply, as a
last favor, not to hasten your preparations too much, so that I may
be able to finish my letters>

Upon whichsatisfied with himself this timehe sat down again
and commenced to write rapidly. They left him in peaceas he
desired. He did not raise his head onceeven at the moment when
a murmur louder than usual showed that the hearers regarded
Rouletabille's crimes with especial detestation. He had the
happiness of having entirely completed his correspond once when
they asked him to rise to hear judgment pronounced upon him. The
supreme communion that he had just had with his friend Sainclair
and with the dear Lady in Black restored all his spirit to him. He
listened respectfully to the sentence which condcmned him to death
though he was busy sliding his tongue along the gummed edge of his
envelope.

These were the counts on which he was to be hanged:

1. Because he had come to Russia and mixed in affairs that did not
concern his nationalityand had done this in spite of warning

to remain in France.

2. Because he had not kept the promises of neutrality he freely
made to a representative of the Central Revolutionary Committee.
3. For trying to penetrate the mystery of the Trebassof datcha.
4. For having Comrade Matiew whipped and imprisoned by Koupriane.
5. For having denounced to Koupriane the identity of the two
doctorswho had been assigned to kill General Trebassof.
6. For having caused the arrest of Natacha Feodorovna.
It was a list longer than was needed for his doom. Rouletabille
kissed his ikons and handed them to Annouchka along with the letters.
Then he declaredwith his lips trembling slightlyand a cold sweat
on his foreheadthat he was ready to submit to his fate.

THE LAST CRAVAT

The gentleman of the Neva said to him: "If you have nothing further
to saywe will go into the courtyard."

Rouletabille understood at last that hanging him in the room where
judgment had been pronounced was rendered impossible by the violence
of the prisoner just executed. Not only the rope and the ring-bolt
had been torn awaybut part of the beam had splintered.

There is nothing more,replied Rouletabille.

He was mistaken. Something occurred to himan idea flashed so
suddenly that he became white as his shirtand had to lean on the
arm of the gentleman of the Neva in order to accompany him.

The door was open. All the men who had voted his death filed out
in gloomy silence. The gentleman of the Nevawho seemed charged
with the last offices for the prisonerpushed him gently out into
the court.

It was vastand surrounded by a high board wall; some small
buildingswith closed doorsstood to right and left. A high
chimneypartially demolishedrose from one corner. Rouletabille
decided the whole place was part of some old abandoned mill. Above
his head the sky was pale as a winding sheet. A thunderous
intermittentrhythmical noise appraised him that he could not be
far from the sea.

He had plenty of time to note all these thingsfor they had stopped
the march to execution a moment and had made him sit down in the
open courtyard on an old box. A few steps away from him under the
shed where he certainly was going to be hangeda man got upon a
stool (the stool that would serve Rouletabille a few moments later)
with his arm raisedand drove with a few blows of a mallet a great
ring-bolt into a beam above his head.

The reporter's eyeswhich had not lost their habit of taking
everything inrested again on a coarse canvas sack that lay on the


ground. The young man felt a slight tremorfor he saw quickly
that the sack swathed a human form. He turned his head awaybut
only to confront another empty sack that was intended for him.
Then he closed his eyes. The sound of music came from somewhere
outsidenotes of the balalaika. He said to himselfWell, we
certainly are in Finland; for he knew thatif the guzla is
Russian the balalaika certainly is Finnish. It is a kind of
accordeon that the peasants pick plaintively in the doorways of
their toubas. He had seen and heard them the afternoon that he
went to Pergalovoand also a little further awayon the Viborg
line. He pictured to himself the ruined structure where he now
found himself shut in with the revolutionary tribunalas it must
appear from the outside to passers-by; unsinisterlike many others
near itsheltering under its decaying roof a few homes of humble
workersresting now as they played the balalaika at their
thresholdswith the day's labor over.

And suddenly from the ineffable peace of his last eveningwhile
the balalaika mourned and the man overhead tested the solidity of
his ring-bolta voice outsidethe gravedeep voice of Annouchka
sang for the little Frenchman:

For whom weave we now the crown

Of lilac, rose and thyme?

When my hand falls lingering down

Who then will bring your crown

Of lilac, rose and thyme?

O that someone among you would hear,

And come, and my lonely hand

Would press, and shed the friendly tear


For alone at the end I stand.

Who now will bring the crown

Of lilac, rose and thyme?

Rouletabille listened to the voice dying away with the last sob of
the balalaika. "It is too sad he said, rising. Let us go
and he wavered a little.

They came to search him. All was ready above. They pushed him
gently towards the shed. When he was under the ring-bolt, near
the stool, they made him turn round and they read him something
in Russian, doubtless less for him than for those there who did
not understand French. Rouletabille had hard work to hold himself
erect.

The gentleman of the Neva said to him further:

Monsieurwe now read you the final formula. It asks you to say
whetherbefore you dieyou have anything you wish to add to what
we know concerning the sentence which has been passed upon you."

Rouletabille thought that his salivawhich at that moment he had
the greatest difficulty in swallowingwould not permit him to utter
a word. But disdain of such a weaknesswhen he recalled the
coolness of so many illustrious condemned people in their last
momentsbrought him the last strength needed to maintain his
reputation.

Why,said hethis sentence is not wrongly drawn up. I blame
it only for being too short. Why has there been no mention of the
crime I committed in contriving the tragic death of poor Michael
Korsakoff?


Michael Korsakoff was a wretch,pronounced the vindictive voice
of the young man who had presided at the trial and whoat this
upreme momenthappened to be face to face with Rouletabille.
Koupriane's police, by killing that man, ridded us of a traitor.

Rouletabille uttered a crya cry of joyand while lie had some
reason for believing that at the point he had reached now of his
too-short career only misfortune could befall himyet here
Providencein his infinite gracesent him before he died this
ineffable consolation: the certainty that he had not been mistaken.

Pardon, pardon,he murmuredin an excess of joy which stifled
him almost as much as the wretched rope would shortly do that they
were getting ready behind him. "Pardon. One second yetone little
second. Thenmessieursthenwe are agreed in thatare we?
This MichaelMichael Nikolaievitch was the the last of traitors."

The first,said the heavy voice.

It is the same thing, my dear monsieur. A traitor, a wretched
traitor,continued Rouletabille.

A poisoner,replied the voice.

A vulgar poisoner! Is that not so? But, tell me how - a vulgar
poisoner who, under cover of Nihilism, worked for his own petty
ends, worked for himself and betrayed you all!

Now Rouletabille's voice rose like a fanfare. Someone said:

He did not deceive us long; our enemies themselves undertook his
punishment.

It was I,cried Rouletabilleradiant again. "It was I who wound
up that career. I tell you that was managed right. It was I who
rid you of him. AhI knew well enoughmessieursin the bottom
of my heart I knew that I could not be mistaken. Two and two make
four alwaysdon't they? And Rouletabille is always Rouletabille.
Messieursit is all rightafter all."

But it was probable that it was also all wrongfor the gentleman
of the Neva came up to him hat in hand and said:

Monsieur, you know now why the witnesses at your trial did not
raise a fact against you that, on the contrary, was entirely in
your favor. Now it only remains for us to execute the sentence
which is entirely justified on other grounds.

Ah, but - wait a little. What the devil! Now that I am sure I
have not been mistaken and that I have been myself, Rouletabille,
all the time I cling to life a little - oh, very much!

A hostile murmur showed the condemned man that the patience of his
judges was getting near its limit.

Monsieur,interposed the presidentwe know that you do not
belong to the orthodox religion; nevertheless, we will bring a
priest if you wish it.

Yes, yes, that is it, go for the priest,cried Rouletabille.

And he said to himselfIt is so much time gained.


One of the revolutionaries started over to a little cabin that had
been transformed into a chapelwhile the rest of them looked at
the reporter with a good deal less sympathy than they had been
showing. If his bravado had impressed them agreeably in the trial
roomthey were beginning to be rather disgusted by his crieshis
protestations and all the maneuvers by which he so apparently was
trying to hold off the hour of his death.

But all at once Rouletabille jumped up onto the fatal stool. They
believed he had decided finally to make an end of the comedy and
die with dignity; but he had mounted there only to give them a
discourse.

Messieurs, understand me now. If it is true that you are not
suppressing me in order to avenge Michael Nikolaievitch., then why
do you hang me? Why do you inflict this odious punishment on me?
Because you accuse me of causing Natacha Feodorovna's arrest? Truly
I have been awkward. Of that, and that alone, I accuse myself.

It was you, with your revolver, who gave the signal to Koupriane's
agents! You have done the dirty work for the police.

Rouletabille tried vainly to protestto explainto say that his
revolver shoton the contraryhad saved the revolutionaries. But
no one cared to listen and no one believed him.

Here is the priest, monsieur,said the gentleman of the Neva.

One second! These are my last words, and I swear to you that
after this I will pass the rope about my neck myself! But listen
to me! Listen to me closely! Natacha Feodorovna was the most
precious recruit you had, was she not?

A veritable treasure,declared the presidenthis voice more and
more impatient.

It was a terrible blow, then,continued the reportera terrible
blow for you, this arrest?

Terrible,some of them ejaculated.

Do not interrupt me! Very well, then, I am going to say this to
you: 'If I ward off this blow - if, after having been the
unintentional cause of Natacha's arrest, I have the daughter of
General Trebassof set at liberty, and that within twenty-four
hours, - what do you say? Would you still hang me?'

The presidenthe who had the Christ-like countenancesaid:

Messieurs, Natacha Feodorovna has fallen the victim of terrible
machinations whose mystery we so far have not been able to penetrate.
She is accused of trying to poison her father and her step-mother,
and under such conditions that it seems impossible for human reason
to demonstrate the contrary. Natacha Feodorovna herself, crushed
by the tragic occurrence, was not able to answer her accusers at
all, and her silence has been taken for a confession of guilt.
Messieurs, Natacha Feodorovna will be started for Siberia to-morrow.
We can do nothing for her. Natacha Feodorovna is lost to us.

Thenwith a gesture to those who surrounded Rouletabille:

Do your duty, messieurs.

Pardon, pardon. But if I do prove the innocence of Natacha?


Just wait, messieurs. There is only I who can prove that innocence!
You lose Natacha by killing me!

If you had been able to prove that innocence, monsicur, the thing
would already be done. You would not have waited.

Pardon, pardon. It is only at this moment that I have become able
to do it.

How is that?

It is because I was sick, you see - very seriously sick. That
affair of Michael Nikolaievitch and the poison that still continued
after he was dead simply robbed me of all my powers. Now that I
am sure I have not been the means of killing an innocent man - I am
Rouletabille again! It is not possible that I shall not find the
way, that I shall not see through this mystery.

The terrible voice of the Christ-like figure said monotonously:

Do your duty, messieurs.

Pardon, pardon. This is of great importance to you - and the
proof is that you have not yet hanged me. You were not so
procrastinating with my predecessor, were you? You have listened
to me because you have hoped! Very well, let me think, let me
consider. Oh, the devil! I was there myself at the fatal luncheon,
and I know better than anyone else all that happened there. Five
minutes! I demand five minutes of you; it is not much. Five
little minutes!

These last words of the condemned man seemed to singularly influence
the revolutionaries. They looked at one another in silence.

Then the president took out his watch and said:

Five minutes. We grant them to you.

Put your watch here. Here on this nail. It is five minutes to
seven, eh? You will give me until the hour?

Yes, until the hour. The watch itself will strike when the hour
has come.

Ah, it strikes! Like the general's watch, then. Very well, here
we are.

Then there was the curious spectacle of Rouletabille standing on
the hangman's stoolthe fatal rope hanging above his headhis
legs crossedhis elbow on his knees in that eternal attitude which
Art has always given to human thoughthis fists under his jaws
his eyes fixed - all around himall those young men intent on his
silencenot moving a muscleturned into statues themselves that
they might not disturb the statue which thought and thought.

XVIII

A SINGULAR EXPERIENCE

The five minutes ticked away and the watch commenced to strike the


hour's seven strokes. Did it sound the death of Rouletabille?
Perhaps not! For at the first silver tinkle they saw Rouletabille
shake himselfand raise his headwith his face alight and his
eyes shining. They saw him stand upspread out his arms and cry:

I have found it!

Such joy shone in his countenance that there seemed to be an aureole
around himand none of those there doubted that he had the solution
of the impossible problem.

I have found it! I have found it!

They gathered around him. He waved them away as in a waking dream.

Give me room. I have found it, if my experiment works out. One,
two, three, four, five...

What was he doing? He counted his steps nowin long pacesas in
dueling preliminaries. And the othersall of themfollowed him
in silencepuzzledbut without protestas if theytoowere
caught in the same strange day-dream. Steadily counting his steps
he crossed thus the courtwhich was vast. "Fortyforty-one
forty-two he cried excitedly. This is certainly strangeand
very promising."

The othersalthough they did not understandreframed from
questioning himfor they saw there was nothing to do but let him
go ahead without interruptionjust as care is taken not to wake
a somnambulist abruptly. They had no mistrust of his motivesfor
the idea was simply untenable that Rouletabille was fool enough to
hope to save himself from them by an imbecile subterfuge. No
they yielded to the impression his inspired countenance gave them
and several were so affected that they unconsciously repeated his
gestures. Thus Rouletabille reached the edge of the court where
judgment had been pronounced against him. There he had to mount
a rickety flight of stairswhose steps he counted. He reached
a corridorbut moving away from the side where the door was
opening to the exterior he turned toward a staircase leading to the
upper floorand still counted the steps as be climbed them. Some
of the company followed himothers hurried ahead of him. But he
did not seem aware of either the one or the otheras he walked
along living only in his thoughts. He reached the landing-place
hesitatedpushed open a doorand found himself in a room furnished
with a tabletwo chairsa mattress and a huge cupboard. He went
to the cupboardturned the key and opened it. The cupboard was
empty. He closed it again and put the key in his pocket. Then he
went out onto the landing-place again. There he asked for the key
of the chamber-door he had just left. They gave it to him and he
locked that door and put that key also in his pocket. Now he
returned into the court. He asked for a chair. It was brought
him. Immediately he placed his head in his handsthinking hard
took the chair and carried it over a little behind the shed. The
Nihilists watched everything he did and they did not smilebecause
men do not smile when death waits at the end of thingshowever
foolish.

FinallyRouletabille spoke:

Messieurs,said hehis voice low and shakenbecause he knew
that now he touched the decisive minuteafter which there could
only be an irrevocable fate. "Messieursin order to continue
my experiment I am obliged to go through movements that might
suggest to you the idea of an attempt at escapeor evasion. I


hope you don't regard me as fool enough to have any such thought."

Oh, monsieur,said the chiefyou are free to go through all
the maneuvers you wish. No one escapee us. Outside we should
have you within arm's reach quite as well as here. And, besides,
it is entirely impossible to escape from here.

Very well. Then that is understood. In such a case, I ask you
now to remain just where you are and not to budge, whatever I do,
if you don't wish to inconvenience me. Only please send someone
now up to the next floor, where I am going to go again, and let
him watch what happens from there, but without interfering. And
don't speak a word to me during the experiment.

Two of the revolutionaries went to the upper floorand opened a
window in order to keep track of what went on in the court. All
now showed their intense interest in the acts and gestures of
Rouletabille.

The reporter placed himself in the shedbetween his death-stool
and his hanging-rope.

Ready,said he; "I am going to begin"

And suddenly he jumped like a wild mancrossed the court in a
straight line like a flashdisappeared in the toubabounded up
the staircasefelt in his pocket and drew out the keysopened
the door of the chamber he had lockedclosed it and locked it
againturned right-about-facecame down again in the same haste
reached the courtand this time swerved to the chairwent round
itstill runningand returned at the same speed to the shed. He
no sooner reached there than he uttered a cry of triumph as he
glanced at the watch banging from a post. "I have won he said,
and threw himself with a happy thrill upon the fatal scaffold.
They surrounded him, and he read the liveliest curiosity in all
their faces. Panting still from his mad rush, he asked for two
words apart with the chief of the Secret committee.

The man who had pronounced judgment and who had the bearing of
Jesus advanced, and there was a brief exchange of words between
the two young men. The others drew back and waited at a distance,
in impressive silence, the outcome of this mysterious colloquy,
which certainly would settle Rouletabille's fate.

Messieurs said the chief, the young Frenchman is going to be
allowed to leave. We give him twenty-four hours to set Natacha
Feodorovna free. In twenty-four hoursif he has not succeeded
he will return here to give himself up."

A happy murmur greeted these words. The moment their chief spoke
thusthey felt sure of Natacha's fate.

The chief added:

As the liberation of Natacha Feodorovna will be followed, the
young Frenchman says, by that of our companion Matiew, we decide
that, if these two conditions are fulfilled, M. Joseph Rouletabille
is allowed to return in entire security to France, which he ought
never to have left.

Two or three only of the group saidThat lad is playing with us;
it is not possible.

But the chief declared:


Let the lad try. He accomplishes miracles.

THE TSAR

I have escaped by remarkable luck,cried Rouletabilleas he
found himselfin the middle of the nightat the corner of the
Katharine and the Aptiekarski Pereoulok Canalswhile the mysterious
carriage which had brought him there returned rapidly toward the
Grande Ecurie. "What a country! What a country!"

He ran a little way to the Grand Morskaiawhich was nearentered
the hotel like a bombdragged the interpreter from his bed
demanded that his bill be made out and that he be told the time of
the next train for Tsarskoie-Coelo. The interpreter told him that
he could not have his bill at such an hourthat he could not leave
town without his passport and that there was no train for
Tsarskoie-Coeloand Rouletabille made an outcry that woke the
whole hotel. The guestsfearing always "une scandale kept close
to their rooms. But Monsieur le directeur came down, trembling.
When he found all that it was about he was inclined to be peremptory,
but Rouletabille, who had seen Michael Strogoff" playedcried
Service of the Tsar!which turned him submissive as a sheep. He
made out the young man's bill and gave him his passportwhich had
been brought back by the police during the afternoon. Rouletabille
rapidly wrote a message to Koupriane's addresswhich the messenger
was directed to have delivered without a moment's delayunder the
pain of death! The manager humbly promised and the reporter did
not explain that by "pain of death" he referred to his own. Then
having ascertained that as a matter of fact the last train had left
for Tsarskoie-Coelohe ordered a carriage and hurried to his room
to pack.

And heordinarily so detailedso particular in his affairsthrew
things every which waylinengarmentswith kicks and shoves. It
was a relief after the emotions he had gone through. "What a
country!" he never ceased to ejaculate. "What a country!"

Then the carriage was readywith two little Finnish horseswhose
gait he knew wellan evil-looking driverwho none the less would
get him there; the trunk; roubles to the domestics. "Spacibo
barine. Spacibo." (Thank youmonsieur. Thank you.)

The interpreter asked what address he should give the driver.

The home of the Tsar.

The interpreter hesitatedbelieving it to be an unbecoming
pleasantrythen waved vaguely to the driverand the horses started.

What a curious trot! We have no idea of that in France,thought
Rouletabille. "France! France! Paris! Is it possible that soon
I shall be back! And that dear Lady in Black! Ahat the first
opportunity I must send her a dispatch of my return - before she
receives those ikonsand the letters announcing my death. Scan!
Scari! Scan! (Hurry!)"

The isvotchick pounded his horsescrowding past the dvornicks who


watched at the corners of the houses during the St. Petersburg night.
Dirigi! dirigi! dirigi! (Look out!)

The countrysomber in the somber night. The vast open country.
What monotonous desolation! Rapidlythrough the vast silent spaces
the little car glided over the lonely route into the black arms of
the pines.

Rouletabilleholding on to his seatlooked about him.

God! this is as sad as a funeral display.

Little frozen hutsno larger than tombsoccasionally indicated
the roadbut there was no mark of life in that country except the
noise of the journey and the two beasts with steaming coats.

Crack! One of the shafts broken. "What a country!" To hear
Rouletabille one would suppose that only in Russia could the shaft
of a carriage break.

The repair was difficult and crudewith bits of rope. And from
then on the journey was slow and cautious after the frenzied speed.
In vain Rouletabille reasoned with himself. "You will arrive
anyway before morning. You cannot wake the Emperor in the dead of
night." His impatience knew no reason. "What a country! What a
country!"

After some other petty adventures (they ran into a ravine and had
tremendous difficulty rescuing the trunk) they arrived at
Tsarskoie-Coelo at a quarter of seven.

Even here the country was not pleasant. Rouletabille recalled the
bright awakening of French country. Here it seemed there was
something more dead than death: it was this little city with its
streets where no one passednot a soulnot a phantomwith its
houses so impenetrablethe windows even of glazed glass and further
blinded by the morning hoar-frost shutting out light more thoroughly
than closed eyelids. Behind them he pictured to himself a world
unknowna world which neither spoke nor weptnor laugheda world
in which no living chord resounded. "What a country! 'Where is
the chateau? I do not know; I have been here only oncein the
marshal's carriage. I do not know the way. Not the great palace!
The idiot of a driver has brought me to this great palace in order
to see itI haven't a doubt. Does Rouletabille look like a tourist?
Dourak! The home of the TsarI tell you. The Tsar's residence.
The place where the Little Father lives. Chez Batouchka!"

The driver lashed his ponies. He drove past all the streets.
Stoi! (Stop!)cried Rouletabille. A gatea soldiermusket at
shoulderbayonet in play; another gateanother soldieranother
bayonet; a park with walls around itand around the walls more
soldiers.

No mistake; here is the place,thought Rouletabille. There was
only one prisoner for whom such pains would be taken. He advanced
towards the gate. Ah! They crossed bayonets under his nose. Halt!
No foolingJoseph Rouletabilleof "L'Epoque. "A subaltern came
from a guard-house and advanced toward him. Explanation evidently
was going to be difficult. The young man saw that if he demanded
to see the Tsarthey would think him crazed and that would further
complicate matters. He asked for the Grand-Marshal of the Court.
They replied that he could get the Marshal's address in Tsarskoie.
But the subaltern turned his head. He saw someone ad'vancing. It
was the Grand-Marshal himself. Some exceptional service called him


without doubtvery early to the Court.

Why, what are you doing here? You are not yet gone then, Monsieur
Roidetabille?

Politeness before everything, Monsieur le Grand-Marechal! I would
not go before saying 'Au revoir' to the Emperor. Be so good, since
you are going to him and he has risen (you yourself have told me he
rises at seven), be so good as to say to him that I wish to pay my
respects before leaving.

Your scheme, doubtless, is to speak to him once more regarding
Natacha Feodorovna?

Not at all. Tell him, Excellency, that I am come to explain the
mystery of the eider downs.

Ah, ah, the eider downs! You know something?

I know all.

The Grand Marshal saw that the young man did not pretend. He asked
him to wait a few minutesand vanished into the park.

A quarter of an hour laterJoseph Rouletabilleof the journal
L'Epoque,was admitted into the cabinet that he knew well from
the first interview he had had there with His Majesty. The simple
work-room of a country-house: a few pictures on the wallsportraits
of the Tsarina and the imperial children on the table; Oriental
cigarettes in the tiny gold cups. Rouletabille was far from feeling
any assurancefor the Grand-Marshal had said to him:

Be cautious. The Emperor is in a terrible humor about you.

A door opened and closed. The Tsar made a sign to the Marshalwho
disappeared. Rouletabille bowed lowthen watched the Emperor
closely.

Quite apparently His Majesty was displeased. The face of the Tsar
ordinarily so calmso pleasantand smilingwas severeand his
eyes had an angry light. He seated himself and lighted a cigarette.

Monsieur,he commencedI am not otherwise sorry to see you
before your departure in order to say to you myself that I am not
at all pleased with you. If you were one of my subjects I would
have already started you on the road to the Ural Mountains.

I remove myself farther, Sire.

Monsieur, I pray you not to interrupt me and not to speak unless
I ask you a question.

Oh, pardon, Sire, pardon.

I am not duped by the pretext you have offered Monsieur le
Grand-Marechal in order to penetrate here.

It is not a pretext, Sire.

Again!

Oh, pardon, Sire, pardon.

I say to you that, called here to aid me against my enemies, they


themselves have not found a stronger or more criminal support than
in you.

Of what am I accused, Sire?

Koupriane -

Ah! Ah! .. . Pardon!

My Chief of Police justly complains that you have traversed all
his designs and that you have taken it upon yourself to ruin them.
First, you removed his agents, who inconvenienced you, it seems;
then, the moment that he had the proof in hand of the abominable
alliance of Natacha Feodorovna with the Nihilists who attempt the
assassination of her father your intervention has permitted that
proof to escape him. And you have boasted of the feat, monsieur,
so that we can only consider you responsible for the attempts
that followed.

Without you, Natacha would not have attempted to poison her father.
Without you, they would not have sent to find physicians who could
blow up the datcha des Iles. Finally, no later than yesterday,
when this faithful servant of mine had set a trap they could not
have escaped from, you have had the audacity, you, to warn them of
it. They owe their escape to you. Monsieur, those are attempts
against the security of the State which deserves the heaviest
punishment. Why, you went out one day from here promising me to
save General Trebassof from all the plotting assassins who lurked
about him. And then you play the game of the assassins! Your
conduct is as miserable as that of Natacha Feodorovna is monstrous!

The Emperor ceasedand looked at Rouletabillewho had not lowered
his eyes.

What can you say for yourself? Speak - now.

I can only say to Your Majesty that I come to take leave of you
because my task here is finished. I have promised you the life of
General Trebassof, and I bring it to you. He runs no danger any
more! I say further to Your Majesty that there exists nowhere in
the world a daughter more devoted to her father, even to the death,
a daughter more sublime than Natacha Feodorovna, nor more innocent.

Be careful, monsieur. I inform you that I have studied this affair
personally and very closely. You have the proofs of these
statements you advance?

YesSire."

And I, I have the proofs that Natacha Feodorovna is a renegade.

At this contradictionuttered in a firm voicethe Emperor stirred
a flush of anger and of outraged majesty in his face. Butafter
this first movementhe succeeded in controlling himselfopened a
drawer brusquelytook out some papers and threw them on the table.

Here they are.

Rouletabille reached for the papers.

You do not read Russian, monsieur. I will translate their purport
for you. Know, then, that there has been a mysterious exchange of
letters between Natacha Feodorovna and the Central Revolutionary
Committee, and that these letters show the daughter of General


Trebassof to be in perfect accord with the assassins of her father
for the execution of their abominable project.

The death of the general?

I declare to Your Majesty that that is not possible.

Obstinate man! I will read -

Useless, Sire. It is impossible. There may be in them the
question of a project, but I am greatly surprised if these
conspirators have been sufficiently imprudent to write in those
letters that they count on Natacha to poison her father.

That, as a matter of fact, is not written, and you yourself are
responsible for it not being there. It does not follow any the
less that Natacha Feodorovna had an understanding with the Nihiists.

That is correct, Sire.

Ah, you confess that?

I do not confess; I simply affirm that Natacha had an understanding
with the Nihilists.

Who plotted their abominable attacks against the ex-Governor of
Moscow.

Sire, since Natacha had an understanding with the Nihilists, it
was not to kill her father, but to save him. And the project of
which you hold here the proofs, but of whose character you are
unaware, is to end the attacks of which you speak, instantly.

You say that.

I speak the truth, Sire.

Where are the proofs? Show me your papers.

I have none. I have only my word.

That is not sufficient.

It will be sufficient, once you have heard me.

I listen.

Sire, before revealing to you a secret on which depends the life
of General Trebassof, you must permit me some questions. Your
Majesty holds the life of the general very dear?

What has that to do with it?

Pardon. I desire that Your Majesty assure me on that point.

The general has protected my throne. He has saved the Empire from
one of the greatest dangers that it has ever run. If the servant
who has done such a service should he rewarded by death, by the
punishment that the enemies of my people prepare for him in the
darkness, I should never forgive myself. There have been too many
martyrs already!

You have replied to me, Sire, in such a way that you make me
understand there is no sacrifice - even to the sacrifice of your


a'mour-propre the greatest a ruler can suffer - no sacrifice too
dear to ransom from death one of these martyrs.

Ah, ah! These gentlemen lay down conditions to me! Money. Money.
They need money. And at how much do they rate the head of the
general?

Sire, that does not touch Your Majesty, and I never will come to
offer you such a bargain. That matter concerns only Natacha
Feodorovna, who has offered her fortune!

Her fortune! But she has nothing.

She will have one at the death of the general. Now she engages to
give it all to the Revolutionary Committee the day the general dies

-if he dies a natural death!
The Emperor rosegreatly agitated.

To the Revolutionary Party! What do you tell me! The fortune of
the general! Eh, but these are great riches.

Sire, I have told you the sercet. You alone should know it and
guard it forever, and I have your sacred word that, when the hour
comes, you will let the prize go where it is promised. If the
general ever learns of such a thing, such a treaty, he would easily
arrange that nothing should remain, and he would denounce his
daughter who has saved him, and then he would promptly he the prey
of his enemies and yours, from whom you wish to save him. I have
told the secret not to the Emperor, but to the representative of
God on the Russian earth. I have confessed it to the priest, who
is bound to forget the words uttered only before God. Allow Natacha
Feodorovna her own way, Sire! And her father, your servant, whose
life is so dear to you, is saved. At the natural death of the
general his fortune will go to his daughter, who has disposed of
it.

Rouletabille stopped a moment to judge of the effect produced. It
was not good. The face of his august listener was more and more
in a frown.

The silence continuedand now the reporter did not dare to break
it. He waited.

Finallythe Emperor rose and walked forward and backward across
the roomdeep in thought. For a moment he stopped at the window
and waved paternally to the little Tsarevitchwho played in the
park with the grand-duchesses.

Then he returned to Rouletabille and pinched his ear.

But, tell me, how have you learned all this? And who then has
poisoned the general and his wife, in the kiosk, if not Natacha?

Natacha is a saint. It is nothing, Sire, that she has been raised
in luxury, and vows' herself to misery; but it is sublime that she
guards in her heart the secret of her sacrifice from everyone, and,
in spite of all, because secrecy is necessary and has been required
of her. See her guarding it before her father, who has been brought
to believe in the dishonor of his daughter, and still to be silent
when a word would have proved her innocent; guarding it face to face
with her fiance, whom she loves, and repulses because marriage is
forbidden to the girl who is supposed to be rich and who will be
poor; guarding it, above all - and guarding it still - in the depths


of the dungeon, and ready to take the road to Siberia under the
accusation of assassination, because that ignominy is necessary for
the safety of her father. That, Sire - oh, Sire, do you see!

But you, how have you been able to penetrate into this guarded
secret?

By watching her eyes. By observing, when she believed herself
alone, the look of terror and the gleams of love. And, beyond all,
by looking at her when she was looking at her father. Ah, Sire,
there were moments when on her mystic face one could read the wild
joy and devotion of the martyr. Then, by listening and by piecing
together scraps of phrases inconsistent with the idea of treachery,
but which immediately acquired meaning if one thought of the
opposite, of sacrifice. Ah, that is it, Sire! Consider always the
alternative motive. What I finally could see myself, the others,
who had a fixed opinion about Natacha, could not see. And why had
they their fixed opinion? Simply because the idea of compromise
with the Nihilists aroused at once the idea of complicity! For
such people it is always the same thing - they never can see but
the one side of the situation. But, nevertheless, the situation
had two sides, as all situations have. The question was simple.
The compromise was certain. But why had Natacha compromised
herself with the Nihilists? Was it necessarily in order to lose
her father? Might it not be, on the contrary, in order to save
him? When one has rendezvous with an enemy it is not necessarily
to enter into his game, sometimes it is to disarm him with an
offer. Between these two hypotheses, which I alone took the
trouble to examine, I did not hesitate long, because Natacha's
every attitude proclaimed her innocence: and her eyes, Sire, in
which one read purity and love, prevailed always with me against
all the passing appearances of disgrace and crime.

I saw that Natacha negotiated with them. But what had she to
place in the scales against the life of her father? Nothing

-except the fortune that she would have one day.
Some words she spoke about the impossibility of immediate marriage,
about poverty which could always knock at the door of any mansion,
remarks that I was able to overhear between Natacha and Boris
Mourazoff, which to him meant nothing, put me definitely on the
right road. And I was not long in ascertaining that the negotiations
in this formidable affair were taking place in the very house of
Trebassof! Pursued without by the incessant spying of Koupriane,
who sought to surprise her in company with the Nihilists, watched
closely, too, by the jealous supervision of Boris, who was jealous
of Michael Nikolaievitch, she had to seize the only opportunities
possible for such negotiations, at night, in her own home, the sole
place where, by the very audacity of it, she was able to play her
part in any security.

Michael Nikolaievitch knew Annouchka. There was certainly the
point of departure for the negotiations which that felon-officer
traitor to all sidesworked at will toward the realization of his
own infamous project. I do not think that Michael ever confided to
Natacha that he wasfrom the very firstthe instrument of the
revolutionaries. Natachawho sought to get in touch with the
revolutionary partyhad to entrust him with a correspondence for
Annouchkafollowing which he assumed direction of the affair
deceiving the Nihilistswhoin their absolute penuryfollowing
the revolthad been seduced by the proposition of General
Trebassof's daughterand deceiving Natachawhom he pretended to
love and by whom he believed himself loved. At this point in the
affair Natacha came to understand that it was necessary to propitiate


Michael Nikolaievitchher indispensable intermediaryand she
managed to do it so well that Boris Mourazoff felt the blackest
jealousy. On his sideMichael came to believe that Natacha would
have no other husband than himselfbut he did not propose to marry
a penniIess girl! Andfatallyit followed that Natachain that
infernal intriguenegotiated for the life of her father through
the agency of a man whounderhandedlysought to strike at the
general himselfbecause the immediate death of her father before
the negotiation was completed would enrich Natachawho had given
Michael so much to hope. That frightful tragedySirein which
we have lived our most painful hoursappeared to meconfident of
Natacha's innocenceas absolutely simple as for the others it
seemed complicated. Natacha believed she had in Michael
Nikolaievitch a man who worked for herbut he worked only for
himself. The day that I was convinced of itSireby my examination
of the approach to the balconyI had a mind to warn Natachato go
to her and say'Get rid of that man. He will betray you. If you
need an agentI am at your service.' But that dayat Krestowsky
destiny prevented my rejoining Natacha; and I must attribute it to
destinywhich would not permit the loss of that man. Michael
Nikolaievitchwho was a traitorwas too much in the 'combination'
and if he had been rejected he would have ruined everything. I
caused him to disappear! The great misfortune then was that
Natachaholding me responsible for the death of a man she believed
innocentnever wished to see me againandwhen she did see me
refused to have any conversation with me because I proposed that I
take Michael's place for her with the revolutionaries. She would
have nothing to do with me in order to protect her secret. Meantime
the Nihilists believed they were betrayed by Natacha when they
learned of the death of Michaeland they undertook to avenge him.
They seized Natachaand bore her off by force. The unhappy girl
learned thenthat same eveningof the attack which destroyed the
datcha andhappilystill spared her father. This time she reached
a definite understanding with the revolutionary party. Her bargain
was made. I offer you for proof of it only her attitude when she
was arrestedandeven in that momenther sublime silence."

While Rouletabille urged his viewthe Emperor let him talk on and
onand now his eyes were dim.

Is it possible that Natacha has not been the accomplice, in all,
of Michael Nikolaievitch?he demanded. "It was she who opened her
father's house to him that night. If she was not his accomplice
she would have mistrusted himshe would have watched him."

Sire, Michael Nikolaievitch was a very clever man. He knew so
well how to play upon Natacha, and Annouchia, in whom she placed
all her hope. It was from Annouchka that she wished to hold the
life of her father. It was the word, the signature of Annouchka
that she demanded before giving her own. The evening Michael
Nikolaievitch died, he was charged to bring her that signature.
know it, myself, because, pretending drunkenness, I was able to
overhear enough of a conversation between Annoucbika and a man whose
name I must conceal. Yes, that last evening, Michael Nikolaievitch,
when he entered the datcha, had the signature in his pocket, but
also he carried the weapon or the poison with which he already had
attempted and was resolved to reach the father of her whom he
believed was assuredly to be his wife.

You speak now of a paper, very precious, that I regret not to
possess, monsieur,said the Tsar coldlybecause that paper alone
would have proved to me the innocence of your protegee.

If you have not it, Sire, you know well that it is because I have


wished you to have it. The corpse had been searched by Katharina,
the little Bohemian, and I, Sire, prevented Koupriane from finding
that signature in Katharina's possession. In saving the secret I
have saved General Trebassof's life, who would have preferred to
die rather than accept such an arrangement.

The Tsar stopped Rouletabille in his enthusiastic outburst.

All that would be very beautiful and perhaps admirable,said he
more and more coldlybecause he had entirely recovered himself
if Natacha had not, herself, with her own hand, poisoned her father
and her step-mother! - always with arsenate of soda.

Oh, some of that had been left in the house,replied Rouletabille.
They had not given me all of it for the analysis after the first
attempt. But Natacha is innocent of that, Sire. I swear it to you.
As true as that I have certainly escaped being hanged.

How, hanged?

Oh, it has not amounted to much now, Your Majesty.

And Rouletabille recounted his sinister adventureup to the moment
of his deathorratherup to the moment when he had believed he
was going to die.

The Emperor listened to the young reporter with complete
stupefaction. He murmuredPoor lad!thensuddenly:

But how have you managed to escape them?

Sire they have given me twenty-four hours for you to set Natacha
at liberty, that is to say, that you restore her to her rights, all
her rights, and she be always the recognized heiress of Trebassof.
Do you understand me, Sire?

I will understand youperhapswhen you have explained to me how
Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother."

There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think
of them only with a rope around one's neck. But let us reason it
out. We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned
and the other two with them have not been. Now, it is certain that,
of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself,
that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as
for me, I have not wished to poison anybody. That, if we are
absolutely sure of it, leaves as the poisoner only Natacha. That
is so certain, so inevitable, that there is only one case, one
alone, where, in such conditions, Natacha would not be regarded as
the poisoner.

I confess that, logically, I do not see,said the Tsaranything
beyond that but more and more of a tangle. What is it?

Logically, the only case would be that where no one had been
poisoned, that is to say, where no one had taken any poison.

But the presence of the poison has been established!cried the
Emperor.

Still, the presence of the poison proves only its presence, not
the crime. Both poison and ipecac were found in the stomach
expulsions. From which a crime has been concluded. What state
of affairs was necessary for there to have been no crime? Simply


that the poison should have appeared in the expulsions after the
ipecac. Then there would have been no poisoning, but everyone
would believe there had been. And, for that, someone would have
poured the poison into the expulsions.

The Tsar never quitted Rouletabille's eyes.

That is extraordinary,said he. "But of course it is possible.
In any caseit is still only an hypothesis.

And so long as it could be an hypothesis that no one thought of,
it could be just that, Sire. But if I am here, it is because I
have the proof that that hypothesis corresponds to the reality.
That necessary proof of Natacha's innocence, Your Majesty, I have
found with the rope around my neck. Ah, I tell you it was time!
What has hindered us hitherto, I do not say to realize, but even
to think, of that hypothesis? Simply that we thought the illness
of the general had commenced before the absorption of the ipecac,
since Matrena Petrovna had been obliged to go for it to her
medicine-closet after his illness commenced, in order to counteract
the poison of which she also appeared to be the victim.

Butif I acquire proof that Matrena Petrovna had the ipecac at
hand before the sicknessmy hypothesis of pretense at poisoning
has irresistible force. Becauseif it was not to use it before
why did she have it with her before? And if it was not that she
wished to hide the fact that she had used it beforewhy did she
wish to make believe that she went to find it afterwards?

Then, in order to show Natacha's innocence, here is what must be
proved: that Matrena Petrovna had the ipecac on her, even when she
went to look for it.

Young Rouletabille, I hardly breathe,said the Tsar.

Breathe, Sire. The proof is here. Matrena Petrovna necessarily
had the ipecac on her, because after the sickness she had not the
time for going to find it. Do you understand, Sire? Between the
moment when she fled from the kiosk and when she returned there,
she had not the actual time to go to her medicine-closet to find
the ipecac.

How have you been able to compute the time?asked the Emperor.

Sire, the Lord God directed, Who made me admire Feodor
Feodorovitch's watch just when we went to read, and to read on the
dial of that watch two minutes to the hour, and the Lord God
directed yet, Who, after the scene of the poison, at the time
Matrena returned carrying the ipecac publicly, made the hour
strike from that watch in the general's pocket.

Two minutes. It was impossible for Matrena to have covered that
distance in two minutes. She could only have entered the deserted
datcha and left it again instantly. She had not taken the trouble
to mount to the floor abovewhereshe told us and repeated when
she returnedthe ipecac was in the medicine-closet. She lied!
And if she liedall is explained.

It was the striking of a watch, Sire, with a striking apparatus
and a sound like the general's, there in the quarters of the
revolutionaries, that roused my memory and indicated to me in a
second this argument of the time.

I got down from my gallows-scaffoldYour Majestyto experiment


on that time-limit. Ohnothing and nobody could have prevented
my making that experiment before I diedto prove to myself that
Rouletabille had all along been right. I had studied the grounds
around the datcha enough to be perfectly exact about the distances.
I found in the court where I was to be hanged the same number of
steps that there were from the kiosk to the steps of the veranda
andas the staircase of the revolutionaries had fewer stepsI
lengthened my journey a few steps by walking around a chair.
FinallyI attended to the opening and closing of the doors that
Matrena would have had to do. I had looked at a watch when I
started. When I returnedSireand looked at the watch againI
had taken three minutes to cover the distance - and it is not for
me to boastbut I am a little livelier than the excellent Matrena.

Matrena had lied. Matrena had simulated the poisoning of the
general. Matrena had coolly poured ipecac in the general's glass
while we were illustrating with matches a curious-enough theory of
the nature of the constitution of the empire.

But this is abominable!cried the Emperorthis time definitely
convinced by the intricate argument of Rouletabille. "And what end
could this imitation serve?'"

The end of preventing the real crime! The end that she believed
herself to have attained, Sire, to have Natacha removed forever

-Natacha whom she believed capable of any crime.
Oh, it is monstrous! Feodor Feodorovitch has often told me that
Matrena loved Natacha sincerely.

She loved her sincerely up to the day that she believed her guilty.
Matrena Petrovna was sure of Natacha's complicity in Michael
Nikolaievitch's attempt to poison the general. I shared her stupor,
her despair, when Feodor Feodorovitch took his daughter in his arms
after that tragic night, and embraced her. He seemed to absolve
her. It was then that Matrena resolved within herself to save the
general in spite of himself, but I remain persuaded that, if she
had dared such a plan against Natacha, it would only be because of
what she believed definite proof of her step-daughter's infamy.
These papers, Sire, that you have shown me, and which show, if
nothing more, an understanding between Natacha and the
revolutionaries, could only have been in the possession of Michael
or of Natacha. Nothing was found in Michael's quarters. Tell me,
then, that Matrena found them in Natacha's apartment. Then, she
did not hesitate!

If one outlined her crime to her, do you believe she would confess
it? asked the Emperor.

I am so sure of it that I have had her brought here. By now
Koupriane should be here at the chateauwith Matrena Petrovna."

You think of everything, monsieur.

The Tsar moved to ring a bell. Rouletabille raised his hand.

Not yet, Sire. I ask that you permit me not to be present at the
confusion of that brave, heroic, good woman who has loved me much.
But before I go, Sire - do you promise me?

The Emperor believed he had not heard correctly or did not grasp
the meaning. He repeated what Rouletabille had said. The young
reporter repeated it once more:


Do you promise? No, Sire, I am not mad. I dare to ask you that.
I have confided my honor to Your Majesty. I have told you Natacha's
secret. Well, now, before Matrena's confession, I dare to ask you:
Promise me to forget that secret. It will not suffice merely to
give Natacha back again to her father. It is necessary to leave
her course open to her - if you really wish to save General
Trebassof. What do you decide, Sire?

It is the first time anyone has questioned me, monsieur.

Ah, well, it will be the last. But I humbly beg Your Majesty to
reply.

That would be many millions given to the Revolution.

Oh, Sire, they are not given yet. The general is sixty-five, but
he has many years ahead of him, if you wish it. By the time he
dies - a natural death, if you wish it - your enemies will have
disarmed.

My enemies!murmured the Tsar in a low voice. "Nono; my enemies
never will disarm. Whothenwill be able to disarm them?" added he
melancholilyshaking his head.

Progress, Sire! If you wish it.

The Tsar turned red and looked at the audacious young manwho met
the gaze of His Majesty frankly.

It is kind of you to say that, my young friend. But you speak as
a child.

As a child of France to the Father of the Russian people.

It was said in a voice so solemn andat the same timeso naively
touchingthat the Tsar started. He gazed again for some time in
silence at this boy whothis timeturned away his brimming eyes.

Progress and pity, Sire.

Well,said the Emperorit is promised.

Rouletabille was not able to restrain a joyous movement hardly in
keeping.

You can ring now, Sire.

And the Tsar rang.

The reporter passed into a little salonwhere he found the Marshal
Koupriane and Matrena Petrovnawho was "in a state."

She threw a suspicious glance at Rouletabillewho was not treated
this morning as the dear little domovoi-doukh. She permitted
herself to be conductedalready tremblingbefore the Emperor.

What happened?asked Koupriane agitatedly.

It so happened, my dear Monsieur Koupriane, that I have the pardon
of the Emperor for all the crimes you have charged against me, and
that I wish to shake hands before I go, without any rancor. Monsieur
Koupriane, the Emperor will tell you himself that General Trebassof
is saved, and that his life will never be in danger any more. Do
you know what follows? It follows that you must at once set Matiew


free, whom I have taken, if you remember, under my protection. Tell
him that he is going to make his way in France. I will find him a
place on condition that he forgets certain lashes.

Such a promise! Such an attitude toward me!cried Koupriane.
But I will wait for the Emperor to tell me all these fine things.
And your Natacha, what do you do with her?

We release her also, monsieur. Natacha never has been the monster
that you think.

How can you say that? Someone at least is guilty.

There are two guilty. The first, Monsieur le Marechal.

What!cried the Marshal.

Monsieur le Marechal, who had the imprudence to bring such
dangerous grapes to the datcha des Iles, and - and -

And the other?asked Kouprianemore and more anxiously.

Listen there,said Rouletabillepointing toward the Emperor's
cabinet.

The sound of tears and sobs reached them. The grief and the remorse
of Matrena Petrovna passed the walls of the cabinet. Koupriane was
completely disconcerted.

Suddenly the Emperor appeared. He was in a state of exaltation
such as had never been known in him. Kouprianedismayeddrew back.

Monsieur,said the Tsar to himI require that Natacha Feodorovna
be here within the next two hours, and that she be conducted with
the honors due to her rank. Natacha is innocent, and we must make
reparation to her.

Thenturning toward Rouletabille:

I have learned what she knows and what she owes to you - we owe
to you, my young friend.

The Tsar said "my young friend." Rouletabilleat this last moment
before his departurespoke Russian?

Then she knows nothing, Sire. That is better, Sire, because Your
Majesty and me, we must forget right from to-day that we know
anything.

You are right,said the Tsar thoughtfully. "Butmy friendwhat
am I to do for you?"

Sire, one favor. Do not let me miss the train at 10:55.

And he threw himself on his knees.

Remain on your knees, my friend. You are ready, thus. Monsieur
le Marechal will prepare at once a brevet, which I will immediately
sign. Meantime, Monsieur le Marechal, find me, in my own closet,
one of my St. Anne's collars.

And it was thus that Joseph Rouletabilleof "L'Epoque was created
officer of St. Anne of Russia by the Emperor himself, who gave him
the accolade.


They combine the whole course of time in this country thought
Rouletabille, pressing his hand to his eyes to hold back the tears.

For the train at 10:55 everybody had crowded at Tsarskoie-Coelo
station. Among those who had come from St. Petersburg to press the
young reporter's hand when they learned of his impending departure
were Ivan Petrovitch, the jolly Councilor of the Emperor, and
Athanase Georgevitch, the lively advocate so well known for his
famous exploits with knife and fork. They had come naturally with
all their bandages and dressings, which made them look like glorious
ruins. They brought the greetings of Feodor Feodorovitch, who still
had a little fever, and of Thaddeus Tchitchnikoff, the Lithuanian,
who had both legs broken.

Even after he was in his compartment Rouletabille had to drink his
last drink of champagne. When nothing remained in the bottle and
everyone had embraced and re-embraced him, as the train did not
start quite yet, Athanase Georgevitch opened a second last" bottle.
It was then that Monsieur le Grand Marechal arrivedout of breath.
They invited him to drinkand he accepted. But he had need to
speak to Rouletabille in privateand he drew the reporterafter
excusesout into the corridor.

It is the Emperor himself who has sent me,said the high dignitary
with emotion. "He has sent me about the eider downs. You forgot to
explain the eider downs to him."

Niet!replied Rouletabillelaughing. "That is nothing. Nitchevo!
His Majesty's eider downs are of the finest eideras one of the
feathers that you have shown me demonstrates. Wellopen them now.
They are a cheap imitationas the second feather proves. The
return of the false eider downsbefore eveningproves then that
they hoped the substitution would pass undetected. That is all.
Caracho! Collapse of the hoax. Your health! Vive le Tsar!"

Caracho! Caracho!

The locomotive was puffing when a couple were seen runninga man
and a woman. It was Monsieur and Madame Gounsovski.

Gounsovski stood on the running-board.

Madame Gounsovski has insisted upon shaking hands. You are very
congenial.

Compliments, madame.

Tell me, young man, you did wrong to fail for dinner at my house
yesterday.

I would have certainly escaped a disagreeable little journey into
Finland. I do not regret it, monsieur.

The train trembled and moved. They criedVive la France! Vive
la Russe!Athanase Georgevitch wept. Matrena Petrovnaat a
window of the stationwhither she had timidly retiredwaved a
handkerchief to the little domovoi-doukhwho had made her see
everything in the right lightand whom she did not dare to embrace
after the terrible affair of the false poison and the Tsar's anger.

The reporter threw her a respectful kiss.

As he said to Gounsovskithere was nothing to be regretted.


All the sameas the train took its way toward the frontier
Rouletabille threw himself back on the cushionsand said:

Ouf!