hat case, monsieur," said he, "don't forget to add that I am His
Majesty's most humble servant."

The carriage drew up. The prince stepped in. Koupriane watched him roll
away, raging at heart and with his fists doubled. Just then his men came
up.

"Go. Search," he said roughly, pointing into the Barque.

They scattered through the establishment, entering all the rooms. Cries
of irritation and of protest arose. Those lingering after the latest of
late suppers were not pleased at this invasion of the police. Everybody
had to rise while the police looked under the tables, the benches, the
long table-cloths. They went into the pantries and down into the bold.
No sign of Katharina. Suddenly Koupriane, who leaned against a netting
and looked vaguely out upon the horizon, waiting for the outcome of the
search, got a start. Yonder, far away on the other side of the river,
between a little wood and the Staria Derevnia, a light boat drew to the
shore, and a little black spot jumped from it like a flea. Koupriane
recognized the little black spot as Kathanna. She was safe. Now he could
not reach her. It would be useless to search the maze of the Bohemian
quarter, where her country-people lived in full control, with customs
and privileges that had never been infringed. The entire Bohemian
population of the capital would have risen against him. It was Prince
Galitch who had made him fail. One of his men came to him:

"No luck," said he. "We have not found Katharina, but she has been here
nevertheless. She met Prince Galitch for just a minute, and gave him
something, then went over the other side into a canoe."

"Very well," and the Prefect shrugged his shoulders. "I was sure of it."

He felt more and more, exasperated. He went down along the river edge
and the first person he saw was Rouletabille, who waited for him without
any impatience, seated philosophically on a bench.

"I was looking for you," cried the Prefect. "We have failed. By your
fault! If you had not thrown yourself into my arms--"

"I did it on purpose," declared the reporter.

"What! What is that you say? You did it on purpose?"

Koupriane choked with rage.

"Your Excellency," said Rouletabille, taking him by the arm, "calm
yourself. They are watching us. Come along and have a cup of tea at
Cubat's place. Easy now, as though we were out for a walk."

"Will you explain to me?"

"No, no, Your Excellency. Remember that I have promised you General
Trebassof