“We know, monsieur, that your paper has decided to send you to Russia, on account of the incidents which are at this time disturbing the court of Turkoie-Selo. We are obliged to warn you that you will not reach St. Petersburg alive.
“(Signed)
“THE CENTRAL REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE.”
I looked at Rouletabille, whose eyes were shining with delight. “Prince Galitch was at the station,” I remarked. He understood me and shrugging his shoulders indifferently, he repeated:
“Ah, now, old fellow, this begins to be amusing!”
And this was all that I could get out of him, in spite of my protestations. And that night when, at the Northern station, I put my arms around him and begged him not to go, the tears in my eyes as I spoke—he laughed again and repeated:
“This is just beginning to be amusing!”
And that was his farewell.
The following day I took up the work which was waiting for me at the Palace. The first of my colleagues whom I saw were MM. Henri-Robert and Andre Hesse.
“Did you have a pleasant holiday?” they asked me.