Rumored cause of Plehve’s assassination.
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This afternoon Koupriane appeared very nervous.  He paid his compliments to the general, grumbled at his imprudence, praised him for his bravery, and then at once picked out Rouletabille, whom he took aside to talk to.

“You have sent my men back to me,” said he to the young reporter.  “You understand that I do not allow that.  They are furious, and quite rightly.  You have given publicly as explanation of their departure — a departure which has naturally astonished, stupefied the general’s friends — the suspicion of their possible participation in the last attack.  That is abominable, and I will not permit it.  My men have not been trained in the methods of Gounsovski, and it does them a cruel injury, which I resent, for that matter, personally, to treat them this way.  But let that go, as a matter of sentiment, and return to the simple fact itself, which proves your excessive imprudence, not to say more, and which involves you, you alone, in a responsibility of which you certainly have not measured the importance.  All in all, I consider that you have strangely abused the complete authority that I gave you upon the Emperor’s orders.  When I learned what you had done I went to find the Tsar, as was my duty, and told him the whole thing.  He was more astonished than can be expressed.  He directed me to go myself to find out just how things were and to furnish the general the guard you had removed.  I arrive at the isles and not only find the villa open like a mill where anyone may enter, but I am informed, and then I see, that the general is promenading in the midst of the crowd, at the mercy of the first miserable venturer.  Monsieur Rouletabille, I am not satisfied.  The Tsar is not satisfied.  And, within an hour, my men will return to assume their guard at the datcha.”

Rouletabille listened to the end.  No one ever had spoken to him in that tone.  He was red, and as ready to burst as a child’s balloon blown too hard.  He said: 

“And I will take the train this evening.”

“You will go?”

“Yes, and you can guard your general all alone.  I have had enough of it.  Ah, you are not satisfied!  Ah, the Tsar is not satisfied!  It is too bad.  No more of it for me.  Monsieur, I am not satisfied, and I say Good-evening to you.  Only do not forget to send me from here every three or four days a letter which will keep me informed of the health of the general, whom I love dearly.  I will offer up a little prayer for him.”

Thereupon he was silent, for he caught the glance of Matrena Petrovna, a glance so desolated, so imploring, so desperate, that the poor woman inspired him anew with great pity.  Natacha had not returned.  What was the young girl doing at that moment?  If Matrena really loved Natacha she must be suffering atrociously.  Koupriane spoke; Rouletabille did not hear him, and he had already forgotten his own anger.  His spirit was wrapped in the mystery.