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than General T…； whose taskweary work toowas not done； and
over whose head hung the sword of revolutionary vengeance。
Razumov； remembering the thick…set man with his heavy jowl
resting on the collar of his uniform； the champion of autocracy；
who had let no sign of surprise； incredulity； or joy escape him；
but whose goggle eyes could express a mortal hatred of all
rebellionRazumov moved uneasily on the bed。
〃He suspected me；〃 he thought。 〃I suppose he must suspect
everybody。 He would be capable of suspecting his own wife； if
Haldin had gone to her boudoir with his confession。〃
Razumov sat up in anguish。 Was he to remain a political suspect
all his days？ Was he to go through life as a man not wholly to
be trustedwith a bad secret police note tacked on to his
record？ What sort of future could he look forward to？
〃I am now a suspect；〃 he thought again； but the habit of
reflection and that desire of safety； of an ordered life； which
was so strong in him came to his assistance as the night wore
on。 His quiet； steady； and laborious existence would vouch at
length for his loyalty。 There were many permitted ways to serve
one's country。 There was an activity that made for progress
without being revolutionary。 The field of influence was great
and infinitely variedonce one had conquered a name。
His thought like a circling bird reverted after fourand…twenty
hours to the silver medal； and as it were poised itself there。
When the day broke he had not slept； not for a moment； but he got
up not very tired and quite sufficiently self…possessed for all
practical purposes。
He went out and attended three lectures in the morning。 But the
work in the library was a mere dumb show of research。 He sat with
many volumes open before him trying to make notes and extracts。
His new tranquillity was like a flimsy garment； and seemed to
float at the mercy of a casual word。 Betrayal！ Why！ the fellow
had done all that was necessary to betray himself。 Precious
little had been needed to deceive him。
〃I have said no word to him that was not strictly true。
Not one word；〃 Razumov argued with himself。
Once engaged on this line of thought there could be no question
of doing useful work。 The same ideas went on passing through his
mind； and he pronounced mentally the same words over and over
again。 He shut up all the books and rammed all his papers into
his pocket with convulsive movements； raging inwardly against Haldin。
As he was leaving the library a long bony student in a threadbare
overcoat joined him； stepping moodily by his side。 Razumov
answered his mumbled greeting without looking at him at all。
〃What does he want with me？ 〃he thought with a strange dread
of the unexpected which he tried to shake off lest it should
fasten itself upon his life for good and all。 And the other；
muttering cautiously with downcast eyes； supposed that his
comrade had seen the news of de P…'s executionerthat was
the expression he usedhaving been arrested the night
before last。 。 。 。
〃I've been illshut up in my rooms；〃 Razumov mumbled
through his teeth。
The tall student； raising his shoulders； shoved his hands deep
into his pockets。 He had a hairless； square； tallowy chin which
trembled slightly as he spoke； and his nose nipped bright red by
the sharp air looked like a false nose of painted cardboard
between the sallow cheeks。 His whole appearance was stamped with
the mark of cold and hunger。 He stalked deliberately at
Razumov's elbow with his eyes on the ground。
〃It's an official statement；〃 he continued in the same
cautious mutter。〃 It may be a lie。 But there was somebody
arrested between midnight and one in the morning on Tuesday。
This is certain。〃
And talking rapidly under the cover of his downcast air； he told
Razumov that this was known through an inferior Government clerk
employed at the Central Secretariat。 That man belonged to one of
the revolutionary circles。 〃The same； in fact； I am affiliated
to；〃 remarked the student。
They were crossing a wide quadrangle。 An infinite distress
possessed Razumov； annihilated his energy； and before his eyes
everything appeared confused and as if evanescent。 He dared not
leave the fellow there。 〃He may be affiliated to the police；〃
was the thought that passed through his mind。 〃Who could tell？〃
But eyeing the miserable frost…nipped； famine…struck figure of
his companion he perceived the absurdity of his suspicion。
〃But Iyou knowI don't belong to any circle。 I。 。 。〃
He dared not say any more。 Neither dared he mend his pace。 The
other； raising and setting down his lamentably shod feet with
exact deliberation； protested in a low tone that it was not
necessary for everybody to belong to an organization。 The most
valuable personalities remained outside。 Some of the best work
was done outside the organization。 Then very fast； with whispering；
feverish lips
〃The man arrested in the street was Haldin。〃
And accepting Razumov's dismayed silence as natural enough； he
assured him that there was no mistake。 That Government clerk was
on night duty at the Secretariat。 Hearing a great noise of
footsteps in the hall and aware that political prisoners were
brought over sometimes at night from the fortress； he opened the
door of the room in which he was working； suddenly。 Before the
gendarme on duty could push him back and slam the door in his
face； he had seen a prisoner being partly carried； partly dragged
along the hall by a lot of policemen。 He was being used very
brutally。 And the clerk had recognized Haldin perfectly。 Less
than half an hour afterwards General T arrived at the
Secretariat to examine that prisoner personally。
〃Aren't you astonished？〃 concluded the gaunt student。
〃No；〃 said Razumov roughlyand at once regretted his answer。
〃Everybody supposed Haldin was in the provinces with his
people。 Didn't you？〃
The student turned his big hollow eyes upon Razumov； who said
unguardedly
〃His people are abroad。〃
He could have bitten his tongue out with vexation。
The student pronounced in a tone of profound meaning
〃So！ You alone were aware。 。 。〃 and stopped。
〃They have sworn my ruin；〃 thought Razumov。〃 Have You spoken of
this to anyone else？〃 he asked with bitter curiosity。
The other shook his head。
〃No； only to you。 Our circle thought that as Haldin had been
often heard expressing a warm appreciation of your character。 。 。〃
Razumov could not restrain a gesture of angry despair which the
other must have misunderstood in some way； because he ceased
speaking and turned away his black； lack…lustre eyes。
They moved side by side in silence。 Then the gaunt student began
to whisper again； with averted gaze
〃As we have at present no one affiliated inside the fortress so
as to make it possible to furnish him with a packet of poison； we
have con