I was surprised to find that we four had drifted some
distance apart, and that K---- was now whispering rapidly to the
Russian officer alone, and that the sergeant was standing far away,
with his back turned to them, slily fingering the things on the
tables. Then the sergeant allowed his hand to linger longer than was
necessary, and, throwing a sharp look round out of the corners of his
eyes, he suddenly thrust some object into his pocket. He, too, had
succumbed! I paid not the slightest attention to these curious
developments, but pretended to be gazing idly at nothing. Still, I
kept my eyes on the alert. K---- was manifestly plotting for those
watches; it was not my business--what did it matter to me if he took
everything there was?

The officer, whatever the arguments, was obviously not yet very
convinced, nor very happy. He shook his head vigorously again and
again, and protested in that thick Russian undertone, which always
seems to me to explain what Russians really are. Yet those thick tones
were becoming gradually monotonous and less emphatic, and presently
slower and slower, until they stopped altogether. Then K---- came
towards me, and said carelessly that he supposed I wanted to wander
around a little more on my own account to see what else there was. It
was an invitation to disappear. Very well! I moved off suddenly and
sent the eunuchs scurrying back. There was a wish to split up the
party for a few minutes so that no one would know what the others
were doing. I knew I should immensely annoy the eunuchs by going
towards the women's quarters. Well, I would not cavil....

I walked rapidly enough then down that back avenue I had observed
before, and looked neither behind me nor to the right or left. I would
go straight through to the end, _Dieu voulant_! It would be
interesting to have the unique experience of exploring the poor
Emperor's most private domains. But then I remembered that the women
had screamed and run away when they had caught sight of us in the
beginning. Now they would be securely locked in, and it was absurd and
dangerous to think of storming a gate by one's self. Farther and
farther I walked away until I became doubtful....

I suddenly became aware that I was in front of a small door; that the
door was ajar; and that an amused talking and moving was going on very
near with many ripples of laughter rising clearly in the still air. It
seemed that the fates were helping me for some inscrut