l himself. Some exceptional service
called him, without doubt, very early to the Court.

"Why, what are you doing here? You are not yet gone then, Monsieur
Roidetabille?"

"Politeness before everything, Monsieur le Grand-Marechal! I would not
go before saying 'Au revoir' to the Emperor. Be so good, since you are
going to him and he has risen (you yourself have told me he rises at
seven), be so good as to say to him that I wish to pay my respects
before leaving."

"Your scheme, doubtless, is to speak to him once more regarding Natacha
Feodorovna?"

"Not at all. Tell him, Excellency, that I am come to explain the mystery
of the eider downs."

"Ah, ah, the eider downs! You know something?"

"I know all."

The Grand Marshal saw that the young man did not pretend. He asked him
to wait a few minutes, and vanished into the park.

A quarter of an hour later, Joseph Rouletabille, of the journal
"L'Epoque," was admitted into the cabinet that he knew well from the
first interview he had had there with His Majesty. The simple work-room
of a country-house: a few pictures on the walls, portraits of the
Tsarina and the imperial children on the table; Oriental cigarettes in
the tiny gold cups. Rouletabille was far from feeling any assurance, for
the Grand-Marshal had said to him:

"Be cautious. The Emperor is in a terrible humor about you."

A door opened and closed. The Tsar made a sign to the Marshal, who
disappeared. Rouletabille bowed low, then watched the Emperor closely.

Quite apparently His Majesty was displeased. The face of the Tsar,
ordinarily so calm, so pleasant, and smiling, was severe, and his eyes
had an angry light. He seated himself and lighted a cigarette.

"Monsieur," he commenced, "I am not otherwise sorry to see you before
your departure in order to say to you myself that I am not at all
pleased with you. If you were one of my subjects I would have already
started you on the road to the Ural Mountains."

"I remove myself farther, Sire."

"Monsieur, I pray you not to interrupt me and not to speak unless I ask
you a question."

"Oh, pardon, Sire, pardon."

"I am not duped by the pretext you have offered Monsieur le
Grand-Marechal in order to penetrate here."

"It is not a pretext, Sire."

"Again!"

"Oh, pardon, Sire, pardon."

"I say to you that, called here to aid me against my enemies, they
themselves have not found a stronger or more criminal support than in
you."

"Of what am I accu