At that moment the door of the bed-chamber was opened abruptly, and the poor child, who had stifled a cry of surprise at the prince's action, instinctively threw her bare arms about his neck, as if to protect him or to beg for his help and protection.
Pierre Olsdorf drew himself gently from the embrace and turned round.
He was before three strangers, one of whom, plainly the chief actor in this singular scene, said to him, politely uncovering:
"Monsieur, you are Prince Pierre Olsdorf?"
"That is my name," the Russian nobleman replied at once, with the greatest calmness.
"I am the commissary of police of this district, delegated by the Juge d'Instruction Leroy to prove against you an act of adultery, by virtue of Article 1307 of the Code Civile. The law directs me to summon hither Madame la Princess, at whose petition process has been issued."
Lise Barineff, who was waiting in the next room, came forward, accompanied by the commissary of police's secretary.
The princess was pale and trembling. She looked as if she would faint.
"Madame," said the police agent, "is this gentleman your husband?"