children watched from a window. A volley sounded. They descended
to secure the body, pierced with twenty-five bullets."

"That was exactly the number of wounds that were made on the body
of little Jacques Zloriksky," came in the even tones of Natacha.

"Oh, you, you always find an excuse," grumbled the general. "Poor
Boichlikoff did his duty, as I did mine.

"Yes, papa, you acted like a soldier. That is what the
revolutionaries ought not to forget. But have no fears for us,
papa; because if they kill you we will all die with you."

"And gayly too," declared Athanase Georgevitch.

"They should come this evening. We are in form!"

Upon which Athanase filled the glasses again.

"None the less, permit me to say," ventured the timber-merchant,
Thaddeus Tchnitchnikof, timidly, "permit me to say that this
Boichlikoff was very imprudent."

"Yes, indeed, very gravely imprudent," agreed Rouletabille. "When
a man has had twenty-five good bullets shot into the body of a
child, he ought certainly to keep his home well guarded if he
wishes to dine in peace."

He stammered a little toward the end of this, because it occurred
to him that it was a little inconsistent to express such opinions,