The spectacle of the tipsy old man being led through the streets in custody promptly attracted a crowd, who followed the little procession at a respectful distance. Petroff turned his bleary eyes upon them, in the vain hope that they might light upon someone who would soften the hearts of his captors. Then another thought struck him with a chill feeling of dismay. If--as seemed certain to be his fate--he were locked up all night his wife would demand an explanation the next time he saw her. Mme. Petroff was a bit of a virago, and the drunken old reprobate had a wholesome terror of what might be in store for him if she got wind of his misbehaviour. "Lemme go home," he whimpered. "I've a mosh important engagement--hic! My wife is waiting for me. It's all ri', I tell you." The crowd laughed uproariously, as though they had just heard an excellent joke, while the policemen gave their prisoner a push forward. Petroff wept bitterly. He was just going to burst into an angry denunciation upon their conduct, when his attention was attracted by a couple of officers in military uniform, who strode up to him with outstretched hands. "My dear fellow," exclaimed the younger of the two, looking at him in a puzzled fashion, "what on earth is the meaning of all this? It won't do, you know. We must take care of you." Petroff's eyes began to blink, and he pinched himself to make certain he was not dreaming. But no; everything was quite real. Here were two of the Czar's officers, whom he had no recollection of ever having seen before, actually claiming his acquaintance! Wonders would never cease! It was no time, however, for argument. Evidently the strangers meant him well, and if they were making a mistake he meant to profit by it. Shaking the speaker's hand, accordingly, he poured out his wrongs in an eager torrent. The brilliant uniforms of the two new-comers had a magic effect upon Petroff's custodians. "I beg your Excellency's pardon," said one of them, with a deferential salute, "but we found this--er--gentleman drunk in the streets, and we thought it best to take him to the station. May I inquire if you know him?" The officer nodded. "Certainly," he returned. "We know him very well indeed. In fact, he's a neighbour of ours. I'm afraid he's had too much to drink. We'll take charge of him, though, and see him safely home. Here's something for your trouble," he added, slipping a couple of roubles into the other's hand. "Please call a cab, and we'll take the professor to his rooms," observed the second officer, who had not yet spoken. Petroff smiled affably. It was much pleasanter to be called a professor than a drunken old man. "It's all ri'," he exclaimed, delightedly. "These gentlemen are--hic--old friends of mine. We'll all go home together--see?" [Illustration: "'MY DEAR FELLOW', EXCLAIMED THE YOUNGER OF THE TWO, 'WHAT ON EARTH IS THE MEANING OF ALL THIS?'"]