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this most extraordinary and difficult situation。〃
Then the Prince rose to ring the bell； and Razumov； making a
short bow； had said with deference
〃I have trusted my instinct。 A young man having no claim upon
anybody in the world has in an hour of trial involving his
deepest political convictions turned to an illustrious
Russianthat's all。〃
The Prince had exclaimed hastily
〃You have done well。〃
In the carriageit was a small brougham on sleigh runners
Razumov broke the silence in a voice that trembled slightly。
〃My gratitude surpasses the greatness of my presumption。〃
He gasped； feeling unexpectedly in the dark a momentary pressure
on his arm。
〃You have done well；〃 repeated the Prince。
When the carriage stopped the Prince murmured to Razumov； who had
never ventured a single question
〃The house of General T…。〃
In the middle of the snow…covered roadway blazed a great bonfire。
Some Cossacks； the bridles of their horses over the arm； were
warming themselves around。 Two sentries stood at the door；
several gendarmes lounged under the great carriage gateway； and
on the first…floor landing two orderlies rose and stood at
attention。 Razumov walked at the Prince's elbow。
A surprising quantity of hot…house plants in pots cumbered the
floor of the ante…room。 Servants came forward。 A young man in
civilian clothes arrived hurriedly； was whispered to； bowed low；
and exclaiming zealously； 〃Certainlythis minute；〃 fled within
somewhere。 The Prince signed to Razumov。
They passed through a suite of reception…rooms all barely lit and
one of them prepared for dancing。 The wife of the General had
put off her party。 An atmosphere of consternation pervaded the place。
But the General's own room； with heavy sombre hangings； two massive desks；
and deep armchairs； had all the lights turned on。 The footman shut the
door behind them and they waited。
There was a coal fire in an English grate； Razumov had never
before seen such a fire； and the silence of the room was like the
silence of the grave； perfect； measureless； for even the clock on
the mantelpiece made no sound。 Filling a corner； on a black
pedestal； stood a quarter…life…size smooth…limbed bronze of an
adolescent figure； running。 The Prince observed in an undertone…
〃Spontini's。 'Flight of Youth。' Exquisite。〃
〃Admirable；〃 assented Razumov faintly。
They said nothing more after this； the Prince silent with his
grand air； Razumov staring at the statue。 He was worried by a
sensation resembling the gnawing of hunger。
He did not turn when he heard an inner door fly open； and a quick
footstep； muffled on the carpet。
The Prince's voice immediately exclaimed； thick with excitement
〃We have got him_ce miserable。_ A worthy young man came to me
No！ It's incredible。 。 。〃
Razumov held his breath before the bronze as if expecting a
crash。 Behind his back a voice he had never heard before
insisted politely
〃_Asseyez…vous donc_。〃
The Prince almost shrieked； 〃_Mais comprenez…vous； mon cher！
L'assassin！_ the murderer we have got him。 。 。〃
Razumov spun round。 The General's smooth big cheeks rested on
the stiff collar of his uniform。 He must have been already
looking at Razumov； because that last saw the pale blue eyes
fastened on him coldly。
The Prince from a chair waved an impressive hand。
〃This is a most honourable young man whom Providence
itself。 。 。Mr。 Razumov。〃
The General acknowledged the introduction by frowning at Razumov；
who did not make the slightest movement。
Sitting down before his desk the General listened with compressed lips。
It was impossible to detect any sign of emotion on his face。
Razumov watched the immobility of the fleshy profile。 But it
lasted only a moment； till the Prince had finished； and when the
General turned to the providential young man； his florid
complexion； the blue； unbelieving eyes and the bright white flash
of an automatic smile had an air of jovial； careless cruelty。 He
expressed no wonder at the extraordinary storyno pleasure or
excitementno incredulity either。 He betrayed no sentiment
whatever。 Only with a politeness almost deferential suggested
that 〃the bird might have flown while Mr。Mr。 Razumov was
running about the streets。〃
Razumov advanced to the middle of the room and said； 〃The door is
locked and I have the key in my pocket。〃
His loathing for the man was intense。 It had come upon him so
unawares that he felt he had not kept it out of his voice。 The
General looked up at him thoughtfully； and Razumov grinned。
All this went over the head of Prince K …seated in a deep
armchair； very tired and impatient。
〃A student called Haldin；〃 said the General thoughtfully。
Razumov ceased to grin。
〃That is his name；〃 he said unnecessarily loud。 〃Victor
Victorovitch Haldina student。〃
The General shifted his position a little。
〃How is he dressed？ Would you have the goodness to tell me？〃
Razumov angrily described Haldin's clothing in a few jerky words。
The General stared all the time； then addressing the Prince
〃We were not without some indications；〃 he said in French。 〃A
good woman who was in the street described to us somebody wearing
a dress of the sort as the thrower of the second bomb。 We have
detained her at the Secretariat； and every one in a Tcherkess
coat we could lay our hands on has been brought to her to look
at。 She kept on crossing herself and shaking her head at them。
It was exasperating。 。 。 。〃 He turned to Razumov； and in
Russian； with friendly reproach
〃Take a chair； Mr。 Razumovdo。 Why are you standing？〃
Razumov sat down carelessly and looked at the General。
〃This goggle…eyed imbecile understands nothing；〃 he thought。
The Prince began to speak loftily。
〃Mr。 Razumov is a young man of conspicuous abilities。 I have it
at heart that his future should not。 。 。 。〃
〃Certainly；〃 interrupted the General； with a movement of the
hand。 〃Has he any weapons on him； do you think； Mr。 Razumov？〃
The General employed a gentle musical voice。 Razumov answered
with suppressed irritation
〃No。 But my razors are lying aboutyou understand。〃
The General lowered his head approvingly。
〃Precisely。〃
Then to the Prince； explaining courteously
〃We want that bird alive。 It will be the devil if we can't make
him sing a little before we are done with him。〃
The grave…like silence of the room with its mute clock fell upon
the polite modulations of this terrible phrase。 The Prince；
hidden in the chair； made no sound。
The General unexpectedly developed a thought。
〃Fidelity to menaced institutions on which depend the safety of a
throne and of a people is no child's play。 We know that； _mon
Prince；_ and_tenez_〃he went on with a sort of flattering
harshness； 〃Mr。 Razumov here begins to understand that