She glanced at the door, watching the policeman statuesque before the setting sun.
"No one knows that - not even my husband.""So M.Koupriane told me.Then it is you who have arranged for these ten police-agents?""Certainly."
"Well, we will commence now by sending all these police away."Matrena Petrovna grasped his hand, astounded.
"Surely you don't think of doing such a thing as that!""Yes.We must know where the blow is coming from.You have four different groups of people around here - the police, the domestics, your friends, your family.Get rid of the police first.They must not be permitted to cross your threshold.They have not been able to protect you.You have nothing to regret.And if, after they are gone, something new turns up, we can leave M.Koupriane to conduct the inquiries without his being preoccupied here at the house.""But you do not know the admirable police of Koupriane.These brave men have given proof of their devotion.""Madame, if I were face to face with a Nihilist the first thing Iwould ask myself about him would be, 'Is he one of the police?'
The first thing I ask in the presence of an agent of your police is, 'Is he not a Nihilist?'""But they will not wish to go."
"Do any of them speak French?"
"Yes, their sergeant, who is out there in the salon.""Pray call him."
Madame Trebassof walked into the salon and signaled.The man appeared.Rouletabille handed him a paper, which the other read.
"You will gather your men together and quit the villa," ordered Rouletabille."You will return to the police Headguarters.Say to M.Koupriane that I have commanded this and that I require all police service around the villa to be suspended until further orders."The man bowed, appeared not to understand, looked at Madame Trebassof and said to the young man:
"At your service."
He went out.
"Wait here a moment," urged Madame Trebassof, who did not know how to take this abrupt action and whose anxiety was really painful to see.
She disappeared after the man of the false astrakhan.A few moments afterwards she returned.She appeared even more agitated.
"I beg your pardon," she murmured, "but I cannot let them go like this.They are much chagrined.They have insisted on knowing where they have failed in their service.I have appeased them with money.""Yes, and tell me the whole truth, madame.You have directed them not to go far away, but to remain near the villa so as to watch it as closely as possible."She reddened.
"It is true.But they have gone, nevertheless.They had to obey you.What can that paper be you have shown them?"Rouletabille drew out again the billet covered with seals and signs and cabalistics that he did not understand.Madame Trebassof translated it aloud: "Order to all officials in surveillance of the Villa Trebassof to obey the bearer absolutely.Signed: Koupriane.""Is it possible!" murmured Matrena Petrovna."But Koupriane would never have given you this paper if he had imagined that you would use it to dismiss his agents.""Evidently.I have not asked him his advice, madame, you may be sure.But I will see him to-morrow and he will understand.""Meanwhile, who is going to watch over him?" cried she.
Rouletabille took her hands again.He saw her suffering, a prey to anguish almost prostrating.He pitied her.He wished to give her immediate confidence.
"We will," he said.
She saw his young, clear eyes, so deep, so intelligent, the well-formed young head, the willing face, all his young ardency for her, and it reassured her.Rouletabille waited for what she might say.She said nothing.She took him in her arms and embraced him.
