that one evening Mr. Razumov was unexpectedly
called upon by one of the "thinking" students whom formerly, before
the Haldin affair, he used to meet at various private gatherings; a big
fellow with a quiet, unassuming manner and a pleasant voice.

Recognizing his voice raised in the ante-room, "May one come in?"
Razumov, lounging idly on his couch, jumped up. "Suppose he were coming
to stab me?" he thought sardonically, and, assuming a green shade over
his left eye, said in a severe tone, "Come in."

The other was embarrassed; hoped he was not intruding.

"You haven't been seen for several days, and I've wondered." He coughed
a little. "Eye better?"

"Nearly well now."

"Good. I won't stop a minute; but you see I, that is, we--anyway, I
have undertaken the duty to warn you, Kirylo Sidorovitch, that you are
living in false security maybe."

Razumov sat still with his head leaning on his hand, which nearly
concealed the unshaded eye.

"I have that idea, too."

"That's all right, then. Everything seems quiet now, but those people
are preparing some move of general repression. That's of course. But it
isn't that I came to tell you." He hitched his chair closer, dropped his
voice. "You will be arrested before long--we fear."

An obscure scribe in the Secretariat had overheard a few words of a
certain conversation, and had caught a glimpse of a certain report. This
intelligence was not to be neglected.

Razumov laughed a little, and his visitor became very anxious.

"Ah! Kirylo Sidorovitch, this is no laughing matter. They have left you
alone for a while, but...! Indeed, you had better try to leave the
country, Kirylo Sidorovitch, while there's yet time."

Razumov jumped up and began to thank him for the advice with mocking
effusiveness, so that the other, colouring up, took himself off with
the notion that this mysterious Razumov was not a person to be warned or
advised by inferior mortals.

Councillor Mikulin, informed the next day of the incident, expressed
his satisfaction. "H'm! Ha! Exactly what was wanted to..." and glanced
down his beard.

"I conclude," said Razumov, "that the moment has come for me to start on
my mission."

"The psychological Moment," Councillor Mikulin insisted softly--very
gravely--as if awed.

All the arrangements to give verisimilitude to the appearance of a
difficult escape were made. Councillor Mikulin did not expect to see
Mr. Razumov again before his departure. These meeti