f genuine majesty. He reassured me at once when I
explained my scruples to him. He said there was no occasion for me to
take part in the politics of the matter, but to save his most faithful
servant, who was on the point of becoming the victim of the strangest
family drama ever conceived."

Madame Matrena, white as a sheet, rose to her feet.

"Ah," she said simply.

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?"

"The Chief of Police? Yes. The grand-marshal accompanied me back to the
station at Krasnoie-Coelo, and the Chief of Police accompanied me to St.
Petersburg station. One could not have been better received."

"Monsieur Rouletabille," said Matrena, who visibly strove to regain her
self-control, "I am not of Koupriane's opinion and I am not"--here she
lowered her trembling voice--"of the opinion His Majesty holds. It
is better for me to tell you at once, so that you may not
regret intervening in an affair where there are--where there
are--risks--terrible risks to run. No, this is not a family drama. The
family is small, very small: the general, his daughter Natacha (by his
former marriage), and myself. There could not be a family drama among
us three. It is simply about my husband, monsieur, who did his duty as
a soldier in defending the throne of his sovereign, my husband whom they
mean to assassinate! There is nothing else, no other situation, my dear
little guest."

To hide her distress she started to carve a slice of jellied veal and
carrot.

"You have not eaten, you are hungry. It is dreadful, my dear young man.
See, you must dine with us, and then--you will say adieu. Yes, you will
leave me all alone. I will undertake to save him all alone. Certainly, I
will undertake it."

A tear fell on the slice she was cutting. Rouletabille, who felt the
brave woman's emotion affecting him also, braced himself to keep from
showing it.

"I am able to help you a little all the same," he said. "Monsieur
Koupriane has told me that there is a deep mystery. It is my vocation to
get to the bottom of mysteries."

"I know what Koupriane thinks," she said, shaking her hea