Page:Leskov - The Sentry and other Stories.djvu/187

 Rh thought it a bad case. He trembled at sight of the steward, crossed himself and cried hastily:

"Ah, my dear children. Oh, my dear children, I know; I know what you are looking for, but I am in no way in fault towards the most serene Count, indeed I'm not in fault, in truth I'm not in fault!"

And each time he crossed himself, he pointed with his finger over his left shoulder at the clock-case in which I was hidden.

"All is lost," I thought, when I saw this extraordinary behaviour.

The stewart noticed this too, and said:

"We know everything. Give me the key of this clock-case."

But the priest only crossed himself all the more.

"Indeed, my children, truly, my dear children. Pardon me, do not punish me! I have forgotten where I put the key. Verily, I have forgotten; in truth I have forgotten!"

And all the time with the other hand he stroked his pocket.

The steward too saw his incredible action, and took the key from the pocket and opened the clock-case.

"Crawl out, my pretty falcon—now I have caught you, your mate will soon appear."

Indeed, Arkadie had already shown himself; he