The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-04-15

enade on slight cause.
NOW Rouletabille, who had not spent
half a second examining the Generals
chamber. was able to be certain that
all went well on that side, when it took
Matrena-and that how many times a day
at least a quarter of an hour of ferreting in
all the corners each time she explored her
house before she was even inadequately re-
assured, was a question. II that dear heroic
woman had been with him during this in
slant Information she would have received
such a shock that, with all confidence gone,
she would have sent for koupraine imme-
diately, and all his agents, reinforced by
the personnel Of the Okrana tSecret Police).
Rouletabille at once rejoined the General.
whistling. Feeder and Ermolai were deep
in conversation about the Orel country. The
young man did not disturb them. Then, soon,
Matrena reappeared. He saw her come in
quite radiant. He handed back her keys,
and she took them mechanically. She was
overjoyed and did not try to hide 1t. The
General himself noticed it. and asked what
had made her so.
ut Is my happiness over our first prom
enade since we arrived at the datcha des
Hes" she explained. And now you must
70 upstairs to bed, Feodor. You will pass
a good night, ! am sure"
Il olCDB Why - iva ehSNff
II promise you. 1t is quite possible now,
that we have our dear little domovoi. You
know. .Feodor, that he smokes his pipe just
like the dear little porcelain domovoi."
He does resemble him. he certainly
does said Fcodor. THAT makes us feel
happy, but / wish him to sleep also"
"Yes. yes,' smiled Rouietabille, every
body win sleep here. That is the counter
sign. We have watched enough. Since the
police are gone We can all sleep, believe ME.
General"
"Eh. Ell, believe you, on my word, easily
enough. There were only they in the house
capable Of attempting that affair of the
bouquet. l have thought that all out, and
now / am at ease. And anyway whatever
happens, it Is necessary to get sleep, isn't
ii? The chances Of war! Nichevo." He
pressed Rouletabille's hand, and Matrena
Petrovna took, as was her habit, Feodor
Feodorovitch on her back and lugged him
to his chamber. In that also she refused
aid from anyone. The General chung to his
wife's neck during the ascent and laughed
like a child. Rouletabille remained in the
hallway. watching the garden attentively.
Ermolai walked out Of the villa and crossed
the garden, going to meet a parsonage in
uniform whom the young man recognized
Immediately as the grand marshal of the
court, who had introduced him to the Tsar.
Ermolai Informed him that Madame Matrena
was engaged in helping her husband retire,
and the Marshal remained at the end of the
garden where he had found Michael and
Boris talking in the kiosque. All three re-
NAMED there for some time in conversation,
standing by a table where General and
Madame Trebassof sometimes dined when
they had no guests. AS they talked the
Marshal played with a box OF white card
board tied with a pink string. AT this
moment Matrena, who had not been able to
resist the desire TO talk for a moment with
Rouletabille and tell him how happy she
,atatnAJ fhA tnnno n a
Little domovoi," said she, laying her
hand on his shoulder, you have not watched
on this side?"
She pointed in her turn to the dining
room.
mo, no. You have seen it, madame, and
am sufficiently informed"
Perfectly. There is nothing. No one has
worked there! No one has touched the
board, l knew 1t. | am sure of 1t, 1t is
dreadful what we have thought about IL!
Oh, you do not know how relieved and
happy | am. All, Natacha, Natacha, / have
not loved you in vain. tShe pronounced
these words in accents of great beauty and
tragic sincerity. When I saw her leave us,
my dear, ah, my legs sank under me. When
she said, I have forgotten something; |
must hurry back l felt l had not the
strength to go a single step. But now l
certainly am happy, that weight at least is
off my heart, off my heart, dear little
domovoi, because of you, because of YOU"
She embraced him, and then ran away.
like one possessed, to resume her post near
the General.
Notes in Rouletabille's memorandum
book; The affair Of the little cavity Under
the floor not having been touched again
proves nothing for or against Natacha
(even though that excellent Matrena Pc
trovna thinks 500 Natacha could very well
have been warned by the too great. care
with which Madame Matrena watched the