“Who, then, are you?” asked the Captain, in surprise.
“You know me, surely?” she answered, with a harsh, strained laugh.
At that moment I heard voices behind me, and, turning quickly, saw three police officers in uniform at the door.
“There she is!” cried one. “I recognise her.”
“Yes; let us enter.”
Brushing past me, the men unceremoniously burst into the room.
“What means this intrusion?” demanded Matvyèich fiercely.
The men saluted, but before they could explain a grey-headed man in ordinary dress pushed forward, and, walking up to my “sister,” exclaimed—
“Sophie Zagarovna! I arrest you for murder, by order of our Imperial Master, the Tzar!”