already in the compartments came out, excepting the man with the
glasses. Then I was sure about him."

Madame Trebassof looked at Rouletabile, who turned as red as the
comb of a rooster and was rather embarrassed at his fatuity.

"That deserves a rebuff, I know, madame, but from the moment the
Emperor of all the Russias had desired to see me I could not admit
that any mere man with glasses had not the curiosity to see what
I looked like. It was not natural. As soon as the train was off
I sat down by this man and told him who I thought he was. I was
right. He removed his glasses and, looking me straight in the eyes,
said he was glad to have a little talk with me before anything
unfortunate happened. A half-hour later the entente-cordiale was
signed. I gave him to understand that I was coming here simply on
business as a reporter and that there was always time to check me
if I should be indiscreet. At the German frontier he left me to
go on, and returned tranquilly to his nitro-glycerine."

"You are a marked man also, my poor boy."

"Oh, they have not got us yet."

Matrena Petrovna coughed. That _us_ overwhelmed her. With what
calmness this boy that she had not known an hour proposed to share
the dangers of a situation that excited general pity but from which
the bravest kept aloof either from prudence or dismay.

"Ah, my friend, a little of this fine smoked Hamburg beef?"