“Then I can’t help your Excellency.  I don’t know what he meant.  I only know there was a moment when I wished to kill him.  There was also a moment when I wished myself dead.  I said nothing.  I was overcome.  I provoked no confidence—­I asked for no explanations—­”

Razumov seemed beside himself; but his mind was lucid.  It was really a calculated outburst.

“It is rather a pity,” the General said, “that you did not.  Don’t you know at all what he means to do?” Razumov calmed down and saw an opening there.

“He told me he was in hopes that a sledge would meet him about half an hour after midnight at the seventh lamp-post on the left from the upper end of Karabelnaya.  At any rate, he meant to be there at that time.  He did not even ask me for a change of clothes.”

“Ah voila!” said the General, turning to Prince K with an air of satisfaction.  “There is a way to keep your protege, Mr. Razumov, quite clear of any connexion with the actual arrest.  We shall be ready for that gentleman in Karabelnaya.”

The Prince expressed his gratitude.  There was real emotion in his voice.  Razumov, motionless, silent, sat staring at the carpet.  The General turned to him.

“Half an hour after midnight.  Till then we have to depend on you, Mr. Razumov.  You don’t think he is likely to change his purpose?”

“How can I tell?” said Razumov.  “Those men are not of the sort that ever changes its purpose.”

“What men do you mean?”

“Fanatical lovers of liberty in general.  Liberty with a capital L, Excellency.  Liberty that means nothing precise.  Liberty in whose name crimes are committed.”

The General murmured—­

“I detest rebels of every kind.  I can’t help it.  It’s my nature!”

He clenched a fist and shook it, drawing back his arm.  “They shall be destroyed, then.”

“They have made a sacrifice of their lives beforehand,” said Razumov with malicious pleasure and looking the General straight in the face.  “If Haldin does change his purpose to-night, you may depend on it that it will not be to save his life by flight in some other way.  He would have thought then of something else to attempt.  But that is not likely.”

The General repeated as if to himself, “They shall be destroyed.”

Razumov assumed an impenetrable expression.

The Prince exclaimed—­

“What a terrible necessity!”

The General’s arm was lowered slowly.

“One comfort there is.  That brood leaves no posterity.  I’ve always said it, one effort, pitiless, persistent, steady—­and we are done with them for ever.”

Razumov thought to himself that this man entrusted with so much arbitrary power must have believed what he said or else he could not have gone on bearing the responsibility.

“I detest rebels.  These subversive minds!  These intellectual debauches!  My existence has been built on fidelity.  It’s a feeling.  To defend it I am ready to lay down my life—­and even my honour—­if that were needed.  But pray tell me what honour can there be as against rebels—­against people that deny God Himself—­perfect unbelievers!  Brutes.  It is horrible to think of.”