seized the time to bring down a brace of woodcock early in the
morning. At this point in Thaddeus's conversation there was a
babble of talk among the convivial gentlemen, for they had all the
time in the world at their disposal and could not see why he should
be so concerned about snatching a little while at morning or
evening, or at midday for that matter. Champagne was flowing like
a river when Rouletabille was brought in by Matrena Petrovna. The
general, whose eyes had been on the door for some time, cried at
once, as though responding to a cue:

"Ah, my dear Rouletabille! I have been looking for you. Our
friends wrote me you were coming to St. Petersburg."

_____________________________________________________________________

*In this story according to Russian habit General Trebassof is
called alternately by that name or the family name Feodor
Feodorovitch, and Madame Trebassof by that name or her family
name, Matrena Petrovna.- Translator's Note.
_____________________________________________________________________


Rouletabille hurried over to him and they shook hands like friends
who meet after a long separation. The reporter was presented to
the company as a close young friend from Paris whom they had enjoyed
so much during their latest visit to the City of Light. Everybody
inquired for the latest word of Paris as of a dear acquaintance.

"How is everybody at Maxim's?" urged the excellent Athanase
Georgevitch.