inger when he felt his coat pulled. He turned. It was
the jolly advocate, well known for his gastronomic feats, Athanase
Georgevitch, along with the jolly Imperial councilor, Ivan Petrovitch,
who motioned him to climb down.

"Come with us; we have a box."

Rouletabille did not need urging, and 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 Tchitchnikoff, the great timber-merchant,
who 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.

"Oh, Gounsovski himself, my dear. He is very amateurish, you 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 Th