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is quite safe with me。 I am interested in him。 He has； it
seems； the great and useful quality of inspiring confidence。
What I was wondering at is why the other should mention anything
at allI mean even the bare fact aloneif his object was only
to obtain temporary shelter for a few hours。 For； after all；
nothing was easier than to say nothing about it unless； indeed；
he were trying； under a crazy misapprehension of your true
sentiments； to enlist your assistanceeh； Mr。 Razumov？〃
It seemed to Razumov that the floor was moving slightly。
This grotesque man in a tight uniform was terrible。 It was right
that he should be terrible。
〃I can see what your Excellency has in your mind。 But I can only
answer that I don't know why。〃
〃I have nothing in my mind；〃 murmured the General； with gentle
surprise。
〃I am his preyhis helpless prey；〃 thought Razumov。 The
fatigues and the disgusts of that afternoon； the need to forget；
the fear which he could not keep off； reawakened his hate for
Haldin。
〃Then I can't help your Excellency。 I don't know what he meant。
I only know there was a moment when I wished to kill him。 There
was also a moment when I wished myself dead。 I said nothing。 I
was overcome。 I provoked no confidenceI asked for no
explanations〃
Razumov seemed beside himself； but his mind was lucid。 It was
really a calculated outburst。
〃It is rather a pity；〃 the General said； 〃that you did not。
Don't you know at all what he means to do？〃 Razumov calmed down
and saw an opening there。
〃He told me he was in hopes that a sledge would meet him about
half an hour after midnight at the seventh lamp…post on the left
from the upper end of Karabelnaya。 At any rate； he meant to be
there at that time。 He did not even ask me for a change of
clothes。〃
〃_Ah voila_！〃 said the General； turning to Prince K with an air
of satisfaction。 〃There is a way to keep your _protege_； Mr。
Razumov； quite clear of any connexion with the actual arrest。 We
shall be ready for that gentleman in Karabelnaya。〃
The Prince expressed his gratitude。 There was real emotion in
his voice。 Razumov； motionless； silent； sat staring at the
carpet。 The General turned to him。
〃Half an hour after midnight。 Till then we have to depend on
you； Mr。 Razumov。 You don't think he is likely to change his
purpose？〃
〃How can I tell？〃 said Razumov。 〃Those men are not of the sort
that ever changes its purpose。〃
〃What men do you mean？〃
〃Fanatical lovers of liberty in general。 Liberty with a capital
L； Excellency。 Liberty that means nothing precise。 Liberty in
whose name crimes are committed。〃
The General murmured
〃I detest rebels of every kind。 I can't help it。 It's my nature！〃
He clenched a fist and shook it； drawing back his arm。 〃They shall
be destroyed； then。〃
〃They have made a sacrifice of their lives beforehand；〃 said
Razumov with malicious pleasure and looking the General straight
in the face。 〃If Haldin does change his purpose to…night； you
may depend on it that it will not be to save his life by flight
in some other way。 He would have thought then of something else
to attempt。 But that is not likely。〃
The General repeated as if to himself； 〃They shall be destroyed。〃
Razumov assumed an impenetrable expression。
The Prince exclaimed
〃What a terrible necessity！〃
The General's arm was lowered slowly。
〃One comfort there is。 That brood leaves no posterity。 I've
always said it； one effort； pitiless； persistent； steadyand we
are done with them for ever。〃
Razumov thought to himself that this man entrusted with so much
arbitrary power must have believed what he said or else he could
not have gone on bearing the responsibility。
〃I detest rebels。 These subversive minds！ These intellectual
_debauches_！ My existence has been built on fidelity。 It's a feeling。
To defend it I am ready to lay down my lifeand even my honourif
that were needed。 But pray tell me what honour can there be as against
rebelsagainst people that deny God Himselfperfect unbelievers！
Brutes。 It is horrible to think of。〃
During this tirade Razumov； facing the General； had nodded
slightly twice。 Prince K…； standing on one side with his grand
air； murmured； casting up his eyes
〃_Helas！_〃
Then lowering his glance and with great decision declared
〃This young man； General； is perfectly fit to apprehend the
bearing of your memorable words。〃
The General's whole expression changed from dull resentment to
perfect urbanity。
〃I would ask now； Mr。 Razumov；〃 he said； 〃to return to his home。
Note that I don't ask Mr。 Razumov whether he has justified his
absence to his guest。 No doubt he did this sufficiently。 But I
don't ask。 Mr。 Razumov inspires confidence。 It is a great gift。
I only suggest that a more prolonged absence might awaken the
criminal's suspicions and induce him perhaps to change his
plans。〃
He rose and with a scrupulous courtesy escorted his visitors to
the ante…room encumbered with flower…pots。
Razumov parted with the Prince at the corner of a street。 In the
carriage he had listened to speeches where natural sentiment
struggled with caution。 Evidently the Prince was afraid of
encouraging any hopes of future intercourse。 But there was a
touch of tenderness in the voice uttering in the dark the guarded
general phrases of goodwill。 And the Prince too said
〃I have perfect confidence in you； Mr。 Razumov。〃
〃They all； it seems； have confidence in me；〃 thought Razumov
dully。 He had an indulgent contempt for the man sitting shoulder
to shoulder with him in the confined space。 Probably he was afraid
of scenes with his wife。 She was said to be proud and violent。
It seemed to him bizarre that secrecy should play such a large
part in the comfort and safety of lives。 But he wanted to put
the Prince's mind at ease； and with a proper amount of emphasis
he said that； being conscious of some small abilities and
confident in his power of work； he trusted his future to his own
exertions。 He expressed his gratitude for the helping hand。
Such dangerous situations did not occur twice in the course of
one lifehe added。
〃And you have met this one with a firmness of mind and
correctness of feeling which give me a high idea of your worth；〃
the Prince said solemnly。 〃You have now only to persevereto
persevere。〃
On getting out on the pavement Razumov saw an ungloved hand
extended to him through the lowered window of the brougham。 It
detained his own in its grasp for a moment； while the light of a
street lamp fell upon the Prince's long face and old…fashioned
grey whiskers。
〃I hope you are perfectly reassured now as to the consequences。 。 。〃
〃After what your Excellency has condescended to do for me；
I can only rely on my conscience。〃
〃_Adieu_；〃 said the whiskered head with feeling。
Razumov bowed。 The brougham glided away with a slight swish in
the snowhe was alone on the edge of the pavement。
He said to himself that there was nothing to think about； and
began walking towards his home。
He walked quietly。 It was a common experience to walk thus
home to bed after an evening spent somewhere with his fellows or
in the cheaper seats of a theatre。 After he had gone a little
way the familiarity of things got hold of him。 Nothing was
changed。 There was the familiar corner； and when he turned it he
saw the familiar dim light of the provision shop kept by a German
woman。 There were loaves of stale bread； bunches of onions and
strings of sausages behind the small window…panes。 They were
closing it。 The sickly lame fellow whom he knew so well by sight
staggered out into the snow embracing a large shutter。
Nothing would change。 There was the familiar gateway yawning
black with feeble glimmers marking the arches of the different
staircases。
The sense of life's continuity depended on trifling bodily
impressions。 The trivialities of daily existence were an armour
for the soul。 And this thought reinforced the inward quietness
of Razumov as he began to climb the stairs familiar to his feet
in the dark； with his hand on the familiar clammy banister。 The
exceptional could not prevail against the material contacts which
make one day resemble another。 To…morrow would be like yesterday。
It was only on the stage that the unusual was outwardly acknowledged。
〃I suppose；〃 thought Razumov； 〃that if I had made up my mind to
blow out my brains on the landing I would be going up these
stairs as quietly as I am doing it now。 What's a man to do？
What must be must be。 Extraordinary things do happen。 But when
they have happened they are done with。 Thus； too； when the mind
is made up。 That question is done with。 And the daily concerns；
the familiarities of our thought swallow it upand the lif