"Little domovoi," said she, laying her hand on his shoulder, "you
have not watched on this side?"
She pointed in her turn to the dining-room.
"No, no. You have seen it, madame, and I am sufficiently informed."
"Perfectly. There is nothing. No one has worked there! No one
has touched the board. I knew it. I am sure of it. It is dreadful
what we have thought about it! Oh, you do not know how relieved and
happy I am. Ah, Natacha, Natacha, I have not loved you in vain.
(She pronounced these words in accents of great beauty and tragic
sincerity.) When I saw her leave us, my dear, ah, my legs sank
under me. When she said, 'I have forgotten something; I must hurry
back,' I felt I had not the strength to go a single step. But now
I certainly am happy, that weight at least is off my heart, off my
heart, dear little domovoi, because of you, because of you."
She embraced him, and then ran away, like one possessed, to resume
her post near the general.
Notes in Rouletabille's memorandum-book: The affair of the little
cavity under the floor not having been touched again proves nothing
for or against Natacha (even though that excellent Matrena Petrovna
thinks so). Natacha could very well have been warned by the too
great care with which Madame Matrena watched the floor.
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