The officer, whatever the arguments, was obviously not yet very convinced, nor very happy.  He shook his head vigorously again and again, and protested in that thick Russian undertone, which always seems to me to explain what Russians really are.  Yet those thick tones were becoming gradually monotonous and less emphatic, and presently slower and slower, until they stopped altogether.  Then K——­ came towards me, and said carelessly that he supposed I wanted to wander around a little more on my own account to see what else there was.  It was an invitation to disappear.  Very well!  I moved off suddenly and sent the eunuchs scurrying back.  There was a wish to split up the party for a few minutes so that no one would know what the others were doing.  I knew I should immensely annoy the eunuchs by going towards the women’s quarters.  Well, I would not cavil....

I walked rapidly enough then down that back avenue I had observed before, and looked neither behind me nor to the right or left.  I would go straight through to the end, Dieu voulant!  It would be interesting to have the unique experience of exploring the poor Emperor’s most private domains.  But then I remembered that the women had screamed and run away when they had caught sight of us in the beginning.  Now they would be securely locked in, and it was absurd and dangerous to think of storming a gate by one’s self.  Farther and farther I walked away until I became doubtful....

I suddenly became aware that I was in front of a small door; that the door was ajar; and that an amused talking and moving was going on very near with many ripples of laughter rising clearly in the still air.  It seemed that the fates were helping me for some inscrutable purpose.  I must discover that purpose.  Without a quiver I boldly walked in.

I came on them without any sense of emotion, although nothing could have been so novel—­a number of groups of young Manchu women, some clothed in beautiful robes, some in an undress which was hardly maidenly.  They were sitting and standing scattered round a large courtyard, and hidden somewhere above them in the yellow tiled roofs were more of those cooing doves with that strong accent of Marseilles:  “Roucoulement, roucoulement, roucoulement,” they said very gently this time, yet without ever ceasing.  Their soft voices made beautiful music....  For some reason none of the harem were surprised.  Two or three of the younger women ran back a step or two, and clasped the hands of the others with broken ejaculations.  Then they all sought my eyes, and somehow we began smiling at one another.  All women are the same; these knew somehow that I would not hurt them.  Yet in spite of this fact I stood there embarrassed, knowing not what to say or do.  I had supposed myself inured by now to all the most impossible situations—­yet it seemed so absurd that I should be here, alone, absolutely alone, among dozens of young women who were