struck his brow in despair; he had suddenly remembered the keys and the box, committed to his care by the dying man.  At that moment, the body, dressed in full uniform, with all his regalia, was lying in the great, darkened room on a table, covered with brocade, awaiting the coffin and the customary wreaths.  The doctor rushed into the empty bedroom.  Everything in it was already in order; the bed stood there, without mattress or pillows.  There was nothing on the dressing table, either.

Where were the keys?  Where was the box?  The box was standing as before, untouched, locked.  His heart at once felt lighter.  But the keys?  No doubt the police would come in a few minutes.  It was astonishing that they had not come already.  They would seal everything.  Everything must be in order.  Where was Yakov?  Probably he had taken them.  Or ... the general’s wife?

Polesski rushed to look for the manservant, but could not find him.  There was so much to do; he had gone to buy something, to order something.  “Oh Lord!  And the announcement?” he suddenly remembered.  It must be written at once, and sent to the newspapers.  He must ask the general’s wife, however, what words he should use.  However much he might wish to avoid her, still she was now the most important person.  And he could ask at the same time whether she had seen the keys.

The doctor went to the rooms of the general’s wife.  She was lying down, suffering severely, but she came out to him.  “What words was he to use?  It was all the same to her.  ‘With deep regret,’ ’with heartfelt sorrow,’ what did she care?  The keys?  What keys?  No! she had not seen any keys, and did not know where they were.  But why should he be disturbed about them?  The servants were trustworthy; nothing would go astray.”

“Yes, but we must have them ready for the police.  They will come in a few minutes, to seal up the dead man’s papers!”

“To seal up the papers?  Why?”

“That is the law.  So that everything should be intact, until after the last will and testament of the deceased has been read, according to his wishes.”

General Nazimoff’s wife paled perceptibly.  She knew nothing of such an obstacle, and had not expected it.  The doctor was too busy to notice her pallor.

“Very well; I shall write the announcement at once, and send it to the newspapers.  I suppose ‘Novoe Vremya’ and ‘Novosti’ will be enough?”

“Do as you think best.  Write it here, in my room.  Here is everything you require; pens, paper.  Write, and then read it to me.  I shall be back in a moment.  I want to put a bandage round my head.  It aches so.  Wait for me here.”  And the general’s wife went from the sitting-room to her bedroom.

“Rita!” she whispered to her faithful maid, who was hurriedly sewing a mourning gown of crape for her.  “Do not let the doctor go till I return.  Do you understand?  Do what you please, but do not let him go.”  The general’s wife slipped from the bedroom into the passage through a small side door, and disappeared.