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hardly credible； but it is a fact that he took very few
precautions for his safety。 In the preamble of a certain famous
State paper he had declared once that 〃the thought of liberty has
never existed in the Act of the Creator。 From the multitude of
men's counsel nothing could come but revolt and disorder； and
revolt and disorder in a world created for obedience and
stability is sin。 It was not Reason but Authority which
expressed the Divine Intention。 God was the Autocrat of the
Universe。 。 。 。〃 It may be that the man who made this
declaration believed that heaven itself was bound to protect him
in his remorseless defence of Autocracy on this earth。
No doubt the vigilance of the police saved him many times； but；
as a matter of fact； when his appointed fate overtook him； the
competent authorities could not have given him any warning。 They
had no knowledge of any conspiracy against the Minister's life；
had no hint of any plot through their usual channels of
information； had seen no signs； were aware of no suspicious
movements or dangerous persons。
Mr。 de P… was being driven towards the railway station in a
two…horse uncovered sleigh with footman and coachman on the box。
Snow had been falling all night； making the roadway； uncleared as
yet at this early hour； very heavy for the horses。 It was still
falling thickly。 But the sleigh must have been observed and
marked down。 As it drew over to the left before taking a turn；
the footman noticed a peasant walking slowly on the edge of the
pavement with his hands in the pockets of his sheepskin coat and
his shoulders hunched up to his ears under the falling snow。 On
being overtaken this peasant suddenly faced about and swung his
arm。 In an instant there was a terrible shock； a detonation
mufffled in the multitude of snowflakes； both horses lay dead and
mangled on the ground and the coachman； with a shrill cry； had
fallen off the box mortally wounded。 The footman （who survived）
had no time to see the face of the man in the sheepskin coat。
After throwing the bomb this last got away； but it is supposed that；
seeing a lot of people surging up on all sides of him in the falling snow；
and all running towards the scene of the explosion； he thought it safer
to turn back with them。
In an incredibly short time an excited crowd assembled round the
sledge。 The Minister…President； getting out unhurt into the deep
snow； stood near the groaning coachman and addressed the people
repeatedly in his weak； colourless voice： 〃I beg of you to keep
off： For the love of God； I beg of you good people to keep off。〃
It was then that a tall young man who had remained standing
perfectly still within a carriage gateway； two houses lower down；
stepped out into the street and walking up rapidly flung another
bomb over the heads of the crowd。 It actually struck the
Minister…President on the shoulder as he stooped over his dying
servant； then falling between his feet exploded with a terrific
concentrated violence； striking him dead to the ground； finishing
the wounded man and practically annihilating the empty sledge in
the twinkling of an eye。 With a yell of horror the crowd broke
up and fled in all directions； except for those who fell dead or
dying where they stood nearest to the Minister…President； and one
or two others who did not fall till they had run a little way。
The first explosion had brought together a crowd as if by
enchantment； the second made as swiftly a solitude in the street
for hundreds of yards in each direction。 Through the falling
snow people looked from afar at the small heap of dead bodies
lying upon each other near the carcases of the two horses。
Nobody dared to approach till some Cossacks of a street…patrol
galloped up and； dismounting； began to turn over the dead。
Amongst the innocent victims of the second explosion laid out on
the pavement there was a body dressed in a peasant's sheepskin
coat； but the face was unrecognisable； there was absolutely
nothing found in the pockets of its poor clothing； and it was the
only one whose identity was never established。
That day Mr。 Razumov got up at his usual hour and spent the
morning within the University buildings listening to the
lectures and working for some time；in the library。 He heard the
first vague rumour of something in the way of bomb…throwing at
the table of the students' ordinary； where he was accustomed to
eat his two o'clock dinner。 But this rumour was made up of mere
whispers； and this was Russia； where it was not always safe； for
a student especially； to appear too much interested in certain
kinds of whispers。 Razumov was one of those men who； living in a
period of mental and political unrest； keep an instinctive hold
on normal； practical； everyday life。 He was aware of the
emotional tension of his time； he even responded to it in an
indefinite way。 But his main concern was with his work； his
studies； and with his own future。
Officially and in fact without a family （for the daughter of the
Archpriest had long been dead）； no home influences had shaped his
opinions or his feelings。 He was as lonely in the world as a man
swimming in the deep sea。 The word Razumov was the mere label of
a solitary individuality。 There were no Razumovs belonging to
him anywhere。 His closest parentage was defined in the statement
that he was a Russian。 Whatever good he expected from life
would be given to or withheld from his hopes by that connexion
alone。 This immense parentage suffered from the throes of
internal dissensions； and he shrank mentally from the fray as a
good…natured man may shrink from taking definite sides in a
violent family quarrel。
Razumov； going home； reflected that having prepared all the
matters of the forthcoming examination； he could now devote his
time to the subject of the prize essay。 He hankered after the
silver medal。 The prize was offered by the Ministry of
Education； the names of the competitors would be submitted to the
Minister himself。 The mere fact of trying would be considered
meritorious in the higher quarters； and the possessor of the
prize would have a claim to an administrative appointment of the
better sort after he had taken his degree。 The student Razumov
in an access of elation forgot the dangers menacing the stability
of the institutions which give rewards and appointments。 But
remembering the medallist of the year before； Razumov； the young
man of no parentage； was sobered。 He and some others happened to
be assembled in their comrade's rooms at the very time when that
last received the official advice of his success。 He was a quiet；
unassuming young man： 〃Forgive me；〃 he had said with a faint
apologetic smile and taking up his cap； 〃I am going out to order
up some wine。 But I must first send a telegram to my folk at home。
I say！ Won't the old people make it a festive time for the neighbours
for twenty miles around our place。〃
Razumov thought there was nothing of that sort for him in the
world。 His success would matter to no one。 But he felt no
bitterness against the nobleman his protector； who was not a
provincial magnate as was generally supposed。 He was in fact
nobody less than Prince K…； once a great and splendid figure in
the world and now； his day being over； a Senator and a gouty
invalid； living in a still splendid but more domestic manner。 He
had some young children and a wife as aristocratic and proud as
himself。
In all his life Razumov was allowed only once to come into
personal contact with the Prince。
It had the air of a chance meeting in the little attorney's
office。 One day Razumov； coming in by appointment； found a
stranger standing therea tall； aristocratic…looking Personage
with silky； grey sidewhiskers。 The bald…headed； sly little
lawyer…fellow called out； 〃Come income in； Mr。 Razumov；〃 with a
sort of ironic heartiness。 Then turning deferentially to the
stranger with the grand air； 〃A ward of mine； your； Excellency。
One of the most promising students of his faculty in the St。
Petersburg University。〃
To his intense surprise Razumov saw a white shapely hand extended
to him。 He took it in great confusion （it was soft and passive）
and heard at the same time a condescending murmur in which he
caught only the words 〃Satisfactory〃 and 〃Persevere。〃 But the
most amazing thing of all was to feel suddenly a distinct
pressure of the white shapely hand just before it was withdrawn：
a light pressure like a secret sign。 The emotion of it was
terrible。 Razumov's heart seemed to leap into his throat。 When
he raised his eyes the aristocratic personage； motioning the
little lawyer aside； had opened the door and was going out。
The attorney rummaged amongst the papers on his desk for a time。
〃Do you know who that was？〃 he asked suddenly。
Razumov； whose heart was thumping hard yet； shook his head in si