entral society, of which the reader knows
already.

"That's all very well," Liputin observed irresolutely, "but since it
will be another adventure... of the same sort... it will make too great
a sensation."

"No doubt," assented Pyotr Stepanovitch, "but I've provided against
that. We have the means of averting suspicion completely."

And with the same minuteness he told them about Kirillov, of his
intention to shoot himself, and of his promise to wait for a signal from
them and to leave a letter behind him taking on himself anything they
dictated to him (all of which the reader knows already).

"His determination to take his own life--a philosophic, or as I should
call it, insane decision--has become known _there_" Pyotr Stepanovitch
went on to explain. "_There_ not a thread, not a grain of dust is
overlooked; everything is turned to the service of the cause. Foreseeing
how useful it might be and satisfying themselves that his intention was
quite serious, they had offered him the means to come to Russia (he was
set for some reason on dying in Russia), gave him a commission which he
promised to carry out (and he had done so), and had, moreover, bound him
by a promise, as you already know, to commit suicide only when he was
told to. He promised everything. You must note that he belongs to the
organisation on a particular footing and is anxious to be of service;
more than that I can't tell you. To-morrow, _after Shatov's affair_, I'll
dictate a note to him saying that he is responsible for his death. That
will seem very plausible: they were friends and travelled together to
America, there they quarrelled; and it will all be explained in the
letter... and... and perhaps, if it seems feasible, we might dictate
something more to Kirillov--something about the manifestoes, for
instance, and even perhaps about the fire. But I'll think about
that. You needn't worry yourselves, he has no prejudices; he'll sign
anything."

There were expressions of doubt. It sounded a fantastic story. But they
had all heard more or less about Kirillov; Liputin more than all.

"He may change his mind and not want to," said Shigalov; "he is a madman
anyway, so he is not much to build upon."

"Don't be uneasy, gentlemen, he will want to," Pyotr Stepanovitch
snapped out. "I am obliged by our agreement to give him warning the day
before, so it must be to-day. I invite Liputin to go with me at once to
see him and make certain, and he will tell yo