faithful soldier of His Majesty, but I am not a monster, and I have
the feelings of a husband and father, my dear monsieur. Tell your
readers that, if you care to, and do not surmise further about
whether I appear to regret being condemned to death."

Certainly what stupefied Rouletabille now was this staunch figure
of the condemned man who appeared so tranquilly to enjoy his life.
When the general was not furthering the gayety of his friends he
was talking with his wife and daughter, who adored him and
continually fondled him, and he seemed perfectly happy. With his
enormous grizzly mustache, his ruddy color, his keen, piercing
eyes, he looked the typical spoiled father.

The reporter studied all these widely-different types and made his
observations while pretending to a ravenous appetite, which served,
moreover, to fix him in the good graces of his hosts of the datcha
des Iles. But, in reality, he passed the food to an enormous
bull-dog under the table, in whose good graces he was also thus
firmly planting himself. As Trebassof had prayed his companions to
let his young friend satisfy his ravening hunger in peace, they did
not concern themelves to entertain him. Then, too, the music
served to distract attention from him, and at a moment somewhat
later, when Matrena Petrovna turned to speak to the young man, she
was frightened at not seeing him. Where had he gone? She went out
into the veranda and looked. She did not dare to call. She walked
into the grand-salon and saw the reporter just as he came out of
the sitting-room.

"Where were you?" she inquired.