"But pardon me, Victor Victorovitch. We know each other so little....
I don't see why you...."
"Confidence," said Haldin.
This word sealed Razumov's lips as if a hand had been clapped on his
mouth. His brain seethed with arguments.
"And so--here you are," he muttered through his teeth.
The other did not detect the tone of anger. Never suspected it.
"Yes. And nobody knows I am here. You are the last person that could
be suspected--should I get caught. That's an advantage, you see. And
then--speaking to a superior mind like yours I can well say all the
truth. It occurred to me that you--you have no one belonging to you--no
ties, no one to suffer for it if this came out by some means. There
have been enough ruined Russian homes as it is. But I don't see how my
passage through your rooms can be ever known. If I should be got hold
of, I'll know how to keep silent--no matter what they may be pleased to
do to me," he added grimly.
He began to walk again while Razumov sat still appalled.
"You thought that--" he faltered out almost sick with indignation.
"Yes, Razumov. Yes, brother. Some day you shall help to build. You
suppose that I am a terrorist, now--a destructor of what is, But
consider that the true destroyers are they who destroy the spirit of
progress and truth, not the avengers who merely kill the bodies of the
persecutors of human dignity.
Pages:
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34