ed, saying, "No one sick."

Like the marshal, Matrena Petrovna and Feodor Feodorovitch looked at one
another, repeating in French, "No one sick! That is strange!"

Rouletabille came forward and gave the only explanation that was
plausible--for the others.

"But, General, that is not strange at all. The grapes have been stolen
and eaten by some domestic, and if the servant has not been sick it is
simply that the grapes monsieur le marechal brought escaped the spraying
of the Bordeaux mixture. That is the whole mystery."

"The little fellow must be right," cried the delighted marshal.

"He is always right, this little fellow," beamed Matrena, as proudly as
though she had brought him into the world.

But "the little fellow," taking advantage of the greetings as Athanase
Georgevitch and Ivan Petrovitch arrived, left the villa, gripping in his
pocket the phial which held what is required to make grapes flourish
or to kill a general who is in excellent health. When he had gone a few
hundred steps toward the bridges one must cross to go into the city, he
was overtaken by a panting dvornick, who brought him a letter that had
just come by courier. The writing on the envelope was entirely unknown
to him. He tore it open and read, in excellent French:

"Request to M. Joseph Rouletabille not to mix in matters that do not
concern him. The second warning will be the last." It was signed: "The
Central Revolutionary Committee."

"So, ho!" said Rouletabille, slipping the paper into his pocket, "that's
the line it takes, is it! Happily I have nothing more to occupy myself
with at all. It is Koupriane's turn now! Now to go to Koupriane's!"

On this date, Rouletabille's note-book: "Natacha to her father: 'But
you, papa, have you had a good night? Did you take your narcotic?'

"Fearful, and (lest I confuse heaven and hell) I have no right to
take any further notes."*

* As a matter of fact, after this day no more notes are
found in Rouletabille's memorandum-book. The last one is
that above, bizarre and romantic, and necessary, as
Sainclair, the Paris advocate and friend of Rouletabille,
indicates opposite it in the papers from which we have taken
all the details of this story.

VIII. THE LITTLE CHAPEL OF THE GUARDS

Rouletabille took a long walk which led him to the Troitsky Bridge,
then, re-descending the Naberjnaia, he reached the Winter Palace.
He seemed to have chased away all preoccu