“‘Little father, I am guilty. The evil one led me astray. I have lied.’
“‘If that is so,’ replied the general, ‘have the goodness to relate to your mistress how it all happened, and I will listen.’
“My steward could not recover himself.
“‘Well, then,’ continued the general, ‘tell us where you met Doubrovsky.’
“‘At the two pine trees, little father, at the two pine trees.’
“‘What did he say to you?
“‘He asked me who I was, where I was going, and why.’
“‘Well, and after that?’
“‘After that he demanded the letter and the money from me, and I gave them to him.’
“‘And he?’