rvention should not become public. He is a young
man of promise--of remarkable aptitudes."

"I haven't a doubt of it," murmured the General. "He inspires
confidence."

"All sorts of pernicious views are so widespread nowadays--they taint
such unexpected quarters--that, monstrous as it seems, he might suffer
...his studies...his..."

The General, with his elbows on the desk, took his head between his
hands.

"Yes. Yes. I am thinking it out.... How long is it since you left him
at your rooms, Mr. Razumov?"

Razumov mentioned the hour which nearly corresponded with the time of
his distracted flight from the big slum house. He had made up his mind
to keep Ziemianitch out of the affair completely. To mention him at all
would mean imprisonment for the "bright soul," perhaps cruel floggings,
and in the end a journey to Siberia in chains. Razumov, who had beaten
Ziemianitch, felt for him now a vague, remorseful tenderness.

The General, giving way for the first time to his secret sentiments,
exclaimed contemptuously--

"And you say he came in to make you this confidence like this--for
nothing--_a propos des bottes_."

Razumov felt danger in the air. The merciless suspicion of despotism had
spoken openly at last. Sudden fear sealed Razumov's lips. The silence
of the room resembled now the silence of a deep dungeon, where time does
not count, and a suspect person is sometimes forgotten for ever. But the
Prince came to the rescue.

"Providence itself has led the wretch in a moment of mental aberration
to seek Mr. Razumov on the strength of some old, utterly misinterpreted
exchange of ideas--some sort of idle speculative conversation--months
ago--I am told--and completely forgotten till now by Mr. Razumov."

"Mr. Razumov," queried the General meditatively, after a short silence,
"do you often indulge in speculative conversation?"

"No, Excellency," answered Razumov, coolly, in a sudden access of
self-confidence. "I am a man of deep convictions. Crude opinions are
in the air. They are not always worth combating. But even the silent
contempt of a serious mind may be misinterpreted by headlong utopists."

The General stared from between his hands. Prince K--- murmured--

"A serious young man. _Un esprit superieur_."

"I see that, _mon cher Prince_," said the General. "Mr. Razumov is quite
safe with me. I am interested in him. He has, it seems, the great and
useful quality of inspiring confidence. What I was wondering