“Selinski had arranged everything beforehand, and his assistants carried out his instructions, though he, himself, was dead. But all that belongs to the past; we have to deal with the present and the future! You know already that one section of the League at least is, as it were, reconstructed. And that section has two definite aims: to aid the cause of freedom, but also to minimize the evils that must ensue in the struggle for freedom. We cannot hope to accomplish much,—there are so few of us,—and we know that we shall perish, perhaps before we have accomplished anything beyond paving the way for those that come after! There is a terrible time in store for Russia, my friend! The masses are ripe for revolt; even the bureaucracy know that now, and they try to gain time by raising side issues. Therefore, here in the country districts, they stir up the moujiks,—now against the tax-gatherers, more often against the Jews. Murder and rapine follows; then the troops are sent, who punish indiscriminately, in order to strike terror into the people. They create a desolation and call it a peace; you have seen an instance yourself on your way hither?”
I nodded, remembering that devastated village we had passed.
“The new League is striving to preserve peace and to save the innocent. Here in the country its members are pledged first to endeavor to improve the condition of the peasants, to teach them to be peaceable, self-supporting, and self-respecting,—a hard, well-nigh hopeless task, since in that, as in all other attempts at reform, one has to work in defiance of the Government.”
“Well, from what I’ve heard—and seen—during the last part of my journey, you’ve managed to do a good deal in that way, sir,” I suggested respectfully.
“It is little enough. I have worked under sufferance, and, as it were, with both hands tied,” he said sadly. “If I had been any other, I should have been sent to Siberia long ago. It is the mere accident of birth that has saved me so far. But as to the League. The present plan of campaign is, roughly speaking, to prevent riots and bloodshed. If news is gained of an intended raid on an isolated country-house, or, what is more frequent, on a Jews’ quarter, a warning is sent to those threatened, and if possible a defence arranged. Even from here I have been able to assist a little in such matters.” Again his eyes gleamed with that swift flash of mirth, though he continued his grave speech. “More than one catastrophe has been averted already, but the distances are so great; often one hears only of the affairs after they are over.
“That will be part of your work. To bring news as you gather it,—the Pavloffs will help you there,—and to accompany me when I choose to elude my jailers for a few hours; perhaps to go in my stead, if it should be impossible for me to get away. I know what you can do when it comes to a fight! Well, this is the ‘sport’ I offered you! Do you care to go in for it? If not—”
“You know I care!” I exclaimed, half indignantly; and on that we gripped hands.
We talked for a good while longer. He gave me much information that I need not set down here, and we spoke often of Anne. He seemed much interested in my cousin, Mary Cayley,—naturally, as she was Anne’s friend and hostess,—and seemed somehow relieved when I said Mary was still in complete ignorance of all that had happened and was happening.
“I should like to meet your charming cousin; but that will never be, I fear; though perhaps—who knows?—she and her friend may yet be reunited,” he said, rousing himself with a sigh and a shiver.
I slept late when I did get to bed, and was awakened at last by Nicolai, who had breakfast ready, and informed me that Mishka was in readiness to escort me to his father’s house.