“Papa!  A promenade among the islands?  Truly?  Oh, that is going to be lovely!”

Matrena Petrovna sprang to her feet.

“Are you mad, my dear little domovoi, actually mad?”

“Why?  Why?  It is fine.  I must run and tell papa.”

“Your father’s room is locked,” said Matrena brusquely.

“Yes, yes; he is locked in.  You have the key.  Locked away until death!  You will kill him.  It will be you who kills him.”

She left the table without waiting for a reply and went and shut herself also in her chamber.

Matrena looked at Rouletabille, who continued his breakfast as though nothing had happened.

“Is it possible that you speak seriously?” she demanded, coming over and sitting down beside him.  “A promenade!  Without the police, when we have received again this morning a letter saying now that before forty-eight hours the general will be dead!”

“Forty-eight hours,” said Rouletabille, soaking his bread in his chocolate, “forty-eight hours?  It is possible.  In any case, I know they will try something very soon.”

“My God, how is it that you believe that?  You speak with assurance.”

“Madame, it is necessary to do everything I tell you, to the letter.”

“But to have the general go out, unless he is guarded — how can you take such a responsibility?  When I think about it, when I really think about it, I ask myself how you have dared send away the police.  But here, at least, I know what to do in order to feel a little safe, I know that downstairs with Gniagnia and Ermolai we have nothing to fear.  No stranger can approach even the basement.  The provisions are brought from the lodge by our dvornicks whom we have had sent from my mother’s home in the Orel country and who are as devoted to us as bull-dogs.  Not a bottle of preserves is taken into the kitchens without having been previously opened outside.  No package comes from any tradesman without being opened in the lodge.  Here, within, we are able to feel a little safe, even without the police - but away from here — outside!”

“Madame, they are going to try to kill your husband within forty-eight hours.  Do you desire me to save him perhaps for a long time — for good, perhaps?”

“Ah, listen to him!  Listen to him, the dear little domovoi!  But what will Koupriane say?  He will not permit any venturing beyond the villa; none, at least for the moment.  Ah, now, how he looks at me, the dear little domovoi!  Oh, well, yes.  There, I will do as you wish.”

“Very well, come into the garden with me.”

She accompanied him, leaning on his arm.

“Here’s the idea,” said Rouletabille.  “This afternoon you will go with the general in his rolling-chair.  Everybody will follow.  Everyone, you understand, Madame — understand me thoroughly, I mean to say that everyone who wishes to come must be invited to.  Only those who wish to remain behind will do so.  And do not insist.  Ah, now, I see, you understand me.  Why do you tremble?”