The good Matrena Petrovna lifted her beautiful eyes to Rouletabille,
brimming with the tears she held back.

She added quickly:

"But eat now, my dear guest; eat. My dear child, you must forget
what Koupriane has said to you, when you are back in France."

"I promise you that, madame."

"It is the Emperor who has caused you this long journey. For me,
I did not wish it. Has he, indeed, so much confidence in you?" she
asked naively, gazing at him fixedly through her tears.

"Madame, I was just about to tell you. I have been active in some
important matters that have been reported to him, and then sometimes
your Emperor is allowed to see the papers. He has heard talk, too
(for everybody talked of them, madame), about the Mystery of the
Yellow Room and the Perfume of the Lady in Black."

Here Rouletabille watched Madame Trebassof and was much mortified
at the undoubted ignorance that showed in her frank face of either
the yellow room or the black perfume.

"My young friend," said she, in a voice more and more hesitant,
"you must excuse me, but it is a long time since I have had good
eyes for reading."

Tears, at last, ran down her cheeks.