But he was not communicative. He smiled and gestured deprecatingly, as if he were of no importance.
“Just a private individual.”
“Travelled much?”
“No, not far. To England and in France and in Germany.”
“Ah, I’ve just been round the world;” and I rattled away with a general description of many things I did not know and many places I had not seen; but I took care to say nothing about any part of European Russia.
What did I think of Petersburg? I had only stayed there long enough to see my friend Harold Marvyn at the Embassy. If I’d known I’d have stayed longer; and I skated on to the thin ice of the Nihilist raid, playing Siegel’s part as he had performed for us. I ended by saying I was expecting a telegram from the Embassy at Kovna—could he tell me how to get it quickly?
He could and did and offered to help me. On this I became professionally confidential. I told him my wish to know more of the Nihilist business, and asked him whether it would probably be worth my while to return to Petersburg; and so managed that he was led to ask all about me and my newspaper. Then I showed him enough to convince him of my good faith.
I watched him gradually lose interest in me and my concerns; and I knew from this that any suspicions or hopes about me, with which he had entered the carriage were dissipated. I was not a Nihilist; no credit was to be gained from detecting and arresting me; and he wished to bother himself no more about me.
We were in this stage of the proceedings, and I was wondering whether Siegel had also been interviewed and if so with what results, when my companion said we were close to Kovna and that I had better put my things together. He was kind enough to assist me and I noticed that he was at great pains to see as many of my papers as he could and to read them. I gave him ample opportunity; and an easy-going fool he no doubt thought me in consequence.
At Kovna his confidence in my good faith communicated itself to the other officials and my path was made easy in consequence. He walked with me to the barrier; a significant glance or two passed between him and the officials; a very cursory look was taken at my passport and I was through.