第88章

Isn't that Asiatic enough for you? Here, a naked woman; there, a corpse! And the jewels - and the champagne! What do you say to that?"___________________________________________________________________*The Russian national anthem.

___________________________________________________________________"His Excellency the Grand Marshal of the Court is waiting for you, Monsieur."Rouletabille shook hands with Athanase Georgevitch, who returned to his zakouskis, and followed the interpreter to the door of one of the private rooms.The high dignitary was there.With a charm in his politeness of which the high-born Russian possesses the secret over almost everybody else in the world, the Marshal intimated to Rouletabille that he had incurred imperial displeasure.

"You have been denounced by Koupriane, who holds you responsible for the checks he has suffered in this affair.""Monsieur Koupriane is right," replied Rouletabille, "and His Majesty should believe him, since it is the truth.But don't fear anything from me, Monsieur le Grand Marechal, for I shall not inconvenience Monsieur Koupriane any further, nor anybody else.Ishall disappear."

"I believe Koupriane is already directed to vise your passport.""He is very good, and he does himself much harm.""All that is a little your fault, Monsieur Rouletabille.We believed we could consider you as a friend, and you have never failed, it appears, on each occasion to give your help to our enemies.

"Who says that?"

"Koupriane.Oh, it is necessary to be one with us.And you are not one with us.And if you are not for us you are against us.

You understand that, I think.That is the way it has to be.The Terrorists have returned to the methods of the Nihilists, who succeeded altogether too well against Alexander II.When I tell you that they succeeded in placing their messages even in the imperial palace...""Yes, yes," said Rouletabille, vaguely, as though he were already far removed from the contingencies of this world."I know that Czar Alexander II sometimes found under his napkin a letter announcing his condemnation to death.""Monsieur, at the Chateau yesterday morning something happened that is perhaps more alarming than the letter found by Alexander IIunder his napkin."

"What can it be? Have bombs been discovered?""No.It is a bizarre occurrence and almost unbelievable.The eider downs, all the eider down coverings belonging to the imperial family disappeared yesterday morning."*___________________________________________________________________* Historically authentic.

___________________________________________________________________"Surely not!"

"It is just as I say.And it was impossible to learn what had become of them - until yesterday evening, when they were found again in their proper places in the chambers.That is the new mystery!""Certainly.But how were they taken out?""Shall we ever know? All we found was two feathers, this morning, in the boudoir of the Empress, which leads us to think that the eider downs were taken out that way.I am taking the two feathers to Koupriane.""Let me see them," asked the reporter.

Rouletabille looked them over and handed them back.

"And what do you think the whole affair means?""We are inclined to regard it as a threat by the revolutionaries.

If they can carry away the eider downs, it would be quite as easy for them to carry away...""The Imperial family? No, I don't think it is that.""What do you mean, then?"

"I? Nothing any more.Not only do I not think any more, but Idon't wish to.Tell me, Monsieur le Grand Marechal, it is useless, I suppose, to try to see His Majesty before I go?""What good would it do, monsieur? We know everything now.This Natacha that you defended against Koupriane is proved the culprit.

The last affair does not leave that in any reasonable doubt.And she is taken care of from this time on.His Majesty wishes never to hear Natacba spoken of again under any pretext.""And what are you going to do with that young girl?""The Tsar has decided that there shall not be any trial and that the daughter of General Trebassof shall be sent, by administrative order, to Siberia.The Tsar, monsieur, is very good, for he might have had her hanged.She deserved it.""Yes, yes, the Tsar is very good."

"You are very absorbed, Monsieur Rouletabille, and you are not eating.""I have no appetite, Monsieur le Marechal.Tell me,- the Emperor must be rather bored at Tsarskoie-Coelo?""Oh, he has plenty of work.He rises at seven o'clock and has a light English luncheon - tea and toast.At eight o'clock he starts and works till ten.From ten to eleven he promenades.""In the jail-yard?" asked Rouletabille innocently.

"What's that you say? "Ah, you are an enfant terrible! Certainly we do well to send you away.Until eleven he promenades in a pathway of the park.From eleven to one he holds audience; luncheon at one; then he spends the time until half-past two with his family.""What does he eat?"

"Soup.His Majesty is wonderfully fond of soup.He takes it at every meal.After luncheon he smokes, but never a cigar - always cigarettes, gifts of the Sultan; and he only drinks one liqueur, Maraschino.At half-past two he goes out again for a little air - always in his park; then he sets himself to work until eight o'clock.It is simply frightful work, with heaps of useless papers and numberless signatures.No secretary can spare him that ungrateful bureaucratic duty.He must sign, sign, sign, and read, read, read the reports.And it is work without any beginning or end; as soon as some reports go, others arrive.At eight o'clock, dinner, and then more signatures, working right up to eleven o'clock.

At eleven o'clock he goes to bed."

"And he sleeps to the rhythmical tramp of the guards on patrol,"added Rouletabille, bluntly.

"0 young man, young man!"