ts.

Koupriane and the reporter, followed by Ermolai, advanced with the
greatest precaution across the lawn. Screened by the wooden steps
leading to the veranda and by the vine-clad balustrade, they got near
enough to hear them. Koupriane gave eager ear to the words of these two
young men, who might have been so rich in the many years of life that
naturally belonged to them, and who were about to die so horrible a
death in destroying all about them. They spoke of what time it was, of
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 light, of the river's freshness and the sweetness of
springtime in the North. That is what they talked about. Koupriane
murmured, "The assassins!"

Now it was necessary to decide on action, and that necessity was
horrible. A false movement, an awkwardness, and the "doctors" would be
warned, and everything lost. They must have the bombs under their coats;
there were certainly at least two "living bombs." Their chests, as
they breathed, must heave to and fro and their hearts beat against an
impending explosion.

Above on the bedroom floor, they heard the rapid arranging of the room,
steps 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 gone, saying there was
nothing more for him to do when two such celebrated specialists had
arrived. However, in spite of their celebrity, no 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 general, or that the general would come down
himself to meet them. Evidently that was what they were waiting for.
They wished to die in his arms, to 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 door,
saying that he would go upstairs and see if he might now escort them
to Madame Trebassof's room. Once in the room above, he could warn the
others not to do anything