Ilya Simonov looked blankly at Catherina and whispered, "Why, what he's reading is as much an attack on the West as it is on us."
She looked at him and whispered back, "Well, why not? This gathering is to discuss freedom of the press."
He said blankly, "But as an agent of the West—"
She frowned at him. "Mr. Dickson isn't an agent of the West. He's an American journalist."
"Surely you can't believe he has no connections with the imperialist governments."
"Certainly, he hasn't. What sort of meeting do you think this is? We're not interested in Western propaganda. We're a group of intellectuals searching for freedom of ideas."
Ilya Simonov was taken back once again.
Colonel Ilya Simonov dismissed his cab in front of the Ministry and walked toward the gate. Down the street the same plainclothes man, who had been lounging there the last time he'd reported, once again took him in, then looked away. The two guards snapped to attention, and the security agent strode by them unnoticing.
At the lieutenant's desk, before the offices of Kliment Blagonravov, he stopped and said, "Colonel Simonov. I have no appointment but I think the Minister will see me."