" Whenever two
Russians come together, the shadow of autocracy is with them, tinging
their thoughts, their views, their most intimate feelings, their private
life, their public utterances--haunting the secret of their silences.
What struck me next in the course of a week or so was the silence of
these ladies. I used to meet them walking in the public garden near the
University. They greeted me with their usual friendliness, but I could
not help noticing their taciturnity. By that time it was generally known
that the assassin of M. de P--- had been caught, judged, and executed.
So much had been declared officially to the news agencies. But for the
world at large he remained anonymous. The official secrecy had withheld
his name from the public. I really cannot imagine for what reason.
One day I saw Miss Haldin walking alone in the main valley of the
Bastions under the naked trees.
"Mother is not very well," she explained.
As Mrs. Haldin had, it seemed, never had a day's illness in her life,
this indisposition was disquieting. It was nothing definite, too.
"I think she is fretting because we have not heard from my brother for
rather a long time."
"No news--good news," I said cheerfully, and we began to walk slowly
side by side.
"Not in Russia," she breathed out so low that I only just caught the
words.
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