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There was no poison, either, in the small bottle you took to Pere Alexis and into which you yourself had poured the contents of Natacha's glass and yours; no trace of poison excepting in two of the four glasses, arsenate of soda was found only on the soiled napkins of Trebassof and his wife and in the two glasses they drank from."
"He has gone again, Excellency." "How gone again?" "Yes, but he has brought the doctors." Koupriane crushed Rouletabille's wrist. The doctors were there! "Madame Trebassof is better," continued Ermolai, who understood nothing of their emotion. "The general is going to meet them and take them to his wife himself." "Where are they?" "They are waiting in the drawing-room."
The unfortunate officer had received a bullet at the back of the head just after he had plunged into the Neva from the rear of the Trebassof datcha and started to swim across. It was a miracle that he had managed to keep going. Doubtless he hoped to die in peace if only he could reach his own house. He apparently had believed he could manage that once he had broken through his human bloodhounds.
But Rouletabille, whom nothing escaped, saw her hand tremble on the back of the chair. He went on, not appearing to have noticed her emotion: "His Majesty added these exact words: 'It is I who ask it of you; I and Madame Trebassof. Go, monsieur, she awaits you." He ceased and waited for Madame Trebassof to speak. She made up her mind after brief reflection. "Have you seen Koupriane?"
Why, you went out one day from here promising me to save General Trebassof from all the plotting assassins who lurked about him. And then you play the game of the assassins! Your conduct is as miserable as that of Natacha Feodorovna is monstrous!" The Emperor ceased, and looked at Rouletabille, who had not lowered his eyes. "What can you say for yourself? Speak now."
The man bowed, appeared not to understand, looked at Madame Trebassof and said to the young man: "At your service." He went out. "Wait here a moment," urged Madame Trebassof, who did not know how to take this abrupt action and whose anxiety was really painful to see. She disappeared after the man of the false astrakhan. A few moments afterwards she returned. She appeared even more agitated.
Matrena Petrovna stayed trembling near him, suddenly overpowered by the idea that he might discover there was someone there behind the door, who had seen and heard the sleep of General Trebassof! Ah, if he learned that, everything was over. She might say her prayers; she should die. But Rouletabille was careful to give no sign. He barely breathed. What a nightmare!
"Do you know who applauded you the most this evening?" "No," said Annouchka indifferently. "The daughter of General Trebassof." "Yes, that is true, on my word," cried Ivan Petrovitch. "Yes, yes, Natacha was there," joined in the other friends from the datcha des Iles. "For me, I saw her weep," said Rouletabille, looking at Annouchka fixedly.
* In this story according to Russian habit General Trebassof is called alternately by that name or the family name Feodor Feodorovitch, and Madame Trebassof by that name or her family name, Matrena Petrovna. Rouletabille hurried over to him and they shook hands like friends who meet after a long separation.
Ah, how I longed to kill him with my own hands! But another had already been assigned the duty and my role was to help him. And do you suppose I am going to tell you the name of that other? Never! And if you discover that other, as you have discovered me, another will come, and another, and another, until Trebassof has paid for his crimes. That is all I have to say to you, Koupriane.
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