The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Secret of the Night, by Gaston Leroux

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: The Secret of the Night

Author: Gaston Leroux

Posting Date: November 20, 2008 [EBook #1686]
Release Date: March, 1999

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SECRET OF THE NIGHT ***

Produced by An Anonymous Project Gutenberg Volunteer

THE SECRET OF THE NIGHT

By Gaston Leroux

CONTENTS

Chapter

I GAYETY AND DYNAMITE
II NATACHA
III THE WATCH
IV "THE YOUTH OF Moscow Is DEAD"
V BY ROULETABILLE'S ORDER THE GENERAL PROMENADES
VI THE MYSTERIOUS HAND
VII ARSENATE OF SODA
VIII THE LITTLE CHAPEL OF THE GUARDS
IX ANNOUCHEA
X A DRAMA IN THE NIGHT
XI THE POISON CONTINUES
XII PERE ALEXIS
XIII THE LIVING BOMBS
XIV THE MARSHES
XV "I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU"
XVI BEFORE THE REVOLUTIONARY TRIBUNAL
XVII THE LAST CRAVAT
XVIII A SINGULAR EXPERIENCE
XIX THE TSAR

THE SECRET OF THE NIGHT

I. GAYETY AND DYNAMITE

"BARINIA, the young stranger has arrived."

"Where is he?"

"Oh, he is waiting at the lodge."

"I told you to show him to Natacha's sitting-room. Didn't you understand
me, Ermolai?"

"Pardon, Barinia, but the young stranger, when I asked to search him, as
you directed, flatly refused to let me."

"Did you explain to him that everybody is searched before being allowed
to enter, that it is the order, and that even my mother herself has
submitted to it?"

"I told him all that, Barinia; and I told him about madame your mother."

"What did he say to that?"

"That he was not madame your mother. He acted angry."

"Well, let him come in without being searched."

"The Chief of Police won't like it."

"Do as I say."

Ermolai bowed and returned to the garden. The "barinia" left the
veranda, where she had come for this conversation with the old servant
of General Trebassof, her husband, and returned to the dining-room
in the datcha des Iles, where the gay Councilor Ivan Petrovitch was
regaling his amu