f his
search and like a madman commenced to run through the passages, when a
sudden idea struck his blood cold. He inquired where the exit for the
artists was and as soon as it was pointed out, he hurried there. He
was not mistaken. In the front line of the crowd that waited to see
Annouchka come out he recognized Natacha, with her head enveloped in the
black mantle so that none should see her face. Besides, this corner of
the garden was in a half-gloom. The police barred the way; he could not
approach as near Natacha as he wished. He set himself to slip like a
serpent through the crowd. He was not separated from Natacha by more
than four or five persons when a great jostling commenced. Annouchka
was coming out. Cries rose: "Annouchka! Annouchka!" Rouletabille threw
himself on his knees and on all-fours succeeded in sticking his head
through into the way kept by the police for Annouchka's passage.
There, wrapped in a great red mantle, his hat on his arm, was a man
Rouletabille immediately recognized. It was Prince Galitch. They were
hurrying to escape the impending pressure of the crowd. But Annouchka as
she passed near Natacha stopped just a second--a movement that did not
escape Rouletabille--and, turning toward her said just the one word,
"Caracho." Then she passed on. Rouletabille got up and forced his way
back, having once more lost Natacha. He searched for her. He ran to the
carriage-way and arrived just in time to see her seated in a carriage
with the Mourazoff family. The carriage started at once in the direction
of the datcha des Iles. The young man remained standing there, thinking.
He made a gesture as though he were ready now to let luck take its
course. "In the end," said he, "it will be better so, perhaps," and
then, to himself, "Now to supper, my boy."

He turned in his tracks and soon was established in the glaring light
of the restaurant. Officers standing, glass in hand, were saluting from
table to table and waving a thousand compliments with grace that was
almost feminine.

He heard his name called joyously, and recognized the voice of Ivan
Petrovitch. The three boon companions were seated over a bottle of
champagne resting in its ice-bath and were being served with tiny pates
while they waited for the supper-hour, which was now near.

Rouletabille yielded to their invitation readily enough, and accompanied
them when the head-waiter informed Thaddeus that the gentlemen were
desired in a private roo