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in the town。 He attended the obligatory lectures regularly and was
considered by the authorities as a very promising student。 He worked
at home in the manner of a man who means to get on； but did not shut
himself up severely for that purpose。 He was always accessible；
and there was nothing secret or reserved in his life。
I
THE origin of Mr。 Razumov's record is connected with an event
characteristic of modern Russia in the actual fact： the
assassination of a prominent statesman and still more
characteristic of the moral corruption of an oppressed society
where the noblest aspirations of humanity； the desire of freedom；
an ardent patriotism； the love of justice； the sense of pity； and
even the fidelity of simple minds are prostituted to the lusts of
hate and fear； the inseparable companions of an uneasy despotism。
The fact alluded to above is the successful attempt on the life
of Mr。 de P…； the President of the notorious Repressive
Commission of some years ago； the Minister of State invested with
extraordinary powers。 The newspapers made noise enough about that
fanatical； narrow…chested figure in gold…laced uniform； with a
face of crumpled parchment； insipid； bespectacled eyes； and the
cross of the Order of St。 Procopius hung under the skinny throat。
For a time； it may be remembered； not a month passed without his
portrait appearing in some one of the illustrated papers of
Europe。 He served the monarchy by imprisoning； exiling； or
sending to the gallows men and women； young and old； with an
equable； unwearied industry。 In his mystic acceptance of the
principle of autocracy he was bent on extirpating from the land
every vestige of anything that resembled freedom in public
institutions； and in his ruthless persecution of the rising
generation he seemed to aim at the destruction of the very
hope of liberty itself。
It is said that this execrated personality had not
enough imagination to be aware of the hate he inspired。 It is
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 fut