“It is true, General, that we have found nothing. Everything had already been carried away.”
But Natacha uttered a veritable torrent of glee:
“He has found nothing! Yet he accuses him of being allied with the revolutionaries. Why? Why? Because I let him in? But I, am I a revolutionary? Tell me. Have I sworn to kill papa? I? I? Ah, he doesn’t know what to say. You see for yourself, papa, he is silent. He has lied. He has lied.”
“Why have you made this false statement, Koupriane?”
“Oh, we have suspected Michael for some time, and truly, after what has just happened, we cannot have any doubt.”
“Yes, but you declared you had papers, and you have not. That is abominable procedure, Koupriane,” replied Feodor sternly. “I have heard you condemn such expedients many times.”
“General! We are sure, you hear, we are absolutely sure that the man who tried to poison you yesterday and the man to-day who is dead are one and the same.”
“And what reason have you for being so sure? It is necessary to tell it,” insisted the general, who trembled with distress and impatience.
“Yes, let him tell now.”
“Ask monsieur,” said Koupriane.