e 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 seal, and he will bring it to head-quarters. Sure you
understand? In an hour?"

"In an hour, Excellency."

They went out, and Alexis followed them, bowing 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 Koupriane, "is 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 all, and Koupriane wound up by
demanding what was the matter with him.

"The matter is," replied Rouletabille, unable longer to conceal his
anguish, "that 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
said, "I 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 reporter, "almost
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 another, someone 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! Well, he would kill himself, that was
all. And those horrible words that he had exchanged with Natacha rose in