e 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 Koupriane, more and more
troubled, and after a moment of hesitation, "you 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 Police, Matrena Petrovna continually turned upon them
her anguished glance, which always insensibly softened as it rested on
Rouletabille. Koupriane read there all the hope that the brave woman had
in the young reporter, and 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 affectionately, and a group of
friends in one courteous sweep, he departed, with thoughtful brow.

During all this time the general, enchanted with the promenade, told
stories of the Caucasus to his friends, believing himself young again
and re-living his nights as sub-lieutenant at Tills. As to Natacha,
no one had seen her. They retraced the way to the villa along deserted
by-paths. Koupriane's call made occasion for Athanase Georgevitch and
Thaddeus, and the two officers also, to say that he was the only honest
man in all the Russian police, and that Matrena Petrovna was a great
woman to have dared rid herself of the entire clique of agents, who
are often more revolutionary than the Nihilists themselves. Thus they
arrived at the datcha.

The general inquired for Natacha, not understanding why she had left him
thus during his first venture out. The schwitzar replied that the young
mistress had returned to the