Still she said nothing but as she made a sudden movement, bringing her knees together, her gold cascaded to the carpet like water into the gutter. Surprised, the man looked at this river of coins and quickly bent down to pick them up. She rose, terrified, letting the remains of her entire fortune fall to the ground. She made a dash for the door of the compartment as if to throw herself out. Guessing her intention, he hurled himself after her. He clasped her in his arms, forced her to sit down and, gripping both her wrists, said: ‘‘Listen to me, please, Madame. I am not a thief or anything like that at all, I assure you. To prove it I am about to pick up all this money and return it to you. However, I myself am practically done for. I am a dead man unless you help me cross the frontier. I can say no more. In one hour’s time we shall be at the last station on Russian territory and in one hour and twenty minutes we shall be crossing the frontier of its Empire. Unless you come to my aid I am doomed. And yet, Madame, I have killed no one and I have stolen nothing. I swear to you I have done nothing at all dishonourable. But I can tell you no more than that.’’

Kneeling, he picked up all the coins, including some he found rolled far under the carriage seats. Then when the little leather bag was full once more, without a word he handed it over to his neighbour and returned to sit in the opposite corner of the compartment.

Neither of them stirred. She remained silent and rigid, still terrified out of her mind but gradually becoming more reassured as time went by. As for the man, he made no movement, not even a gesture but sat upright, looking straight ahead, as pale as death. From time to time she cast a quick glance in his direction then turned away again. He was an extremely good-looking man of about thirty with every appearance of a gentleman.

The train hurtled through the darkness, its heart-rending wails piercing the night as it went. Sometimes it slackened pace before picking up speed again. Suddenly it slowed down, and this time came to a complete halt. Ivan appeared at the door awaiting orders. The Countess Marie, trembling, looked over one last time at her strange companion then, suddenly brisk, said to her manservant: ‘‘Ivan, you must return to the Count. I no longer need you with me.’’

Dumbfounded, the man opened his eyes wide. He stammered: ‘‘But barinya …’’

She went on: ‘‘Yes that’s right … I have changed my mind. You needn’t come any further. I’d rather you remained here in Russia. Here … take some money for the return journey … and … give me your hat and coat before you leave.’’