'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 insisted, "since 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.'"

XI. THE POISON CONTINUES

At ten o'clock that morning Rouletabille went to the Trebassof villa,
which had its guard of secret agents again, a double guard, because
Koupriane was sure the Nihilists would not delay in avenging Michael's
death. Rouletabille was met by Ermolai, who would not allow him to
enter. The faithful servant uttered some explanation in Russian, which
the young man did not understand, or, rather, Rouletabille understood
perfectly from his manner that henceforth the door of the villa was
closed to him. In vain he insisted on seeing the general, Matrena
Petrovna and Mademoiselle Natacha. Ermolai made no reply but "Niet,
niet, niet." The reporter turned away without having seen anyone, and
walked away deeply depressed. He went afoot clear into the city, a long
promenade, during which his brain surged with the darkest forebodings.
As he passed by the Department of Police he resolved to see Koupriane
again. He went in, gave his name, and 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 voice, pointing 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 once, and 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 them