Princess Zara

In order to convey some idea of the moral effect that the meeting had

upon him, I must outline a part of it. One by one my men read off lists

of the nihilists under their jurisdiction, accurately describing them,

as well as the several disguises that they were in the habit of

wearing, the meeting places of the different branches of the society,

and where the members of those branches were to be found at certain

hours. Included in the lists were names of many prominent people in the

city, officers in the army, policemen on duty, spies in private

families, in hotels and cafés, in the palace, at the barracks, in the

prisons, and, in fact, everywhere. As name after name was read off,

until the number amounted to many hundreds the face of Ivan de

Echeveria became as pale as death, and when, at last, his own sister's

name was read, and I remarked grimly that she was already a prisoner,

and would be on her way to Siberia within the week, he broke out in

curses and threats, to which, of course, not one of us paid the

slightest attention. When he found that we did not notice him in any

way, but proceeded quietly with our business, he relapsed into a moody

silence, and I knew that my moral lesson was working. I knew that I

could save Zara's brother, for that is what I meant to do. When the

lists were completed, and I had given my orders regarding who was to be

arrested that night, and who was to be spared, having directed that

certain of them be told that they could obtain passports out of the

country under certain conditions, I dismissed my leaders, and at last

stood alone in the presence of Ivan.

"Now, sir," I said coldly, "what do you think of it?"

"I think that this night will see the end of our cause, until other

children are born who will grow up to know the wrongs to which the

people of Russia have to submit. You may crush out nihilism to-day, but

you cannot crush it out forever. It will spring up again like----"

"Like the poisonous weed that it is. I expect that, but this present

growth will be cut down to-night. You do not ask what is to be done

with you, Ivan."

"Why should I? I know."

"I am afraid that you do not."

"One who would send my beautiful sister to Siberia--Bah! I will not

talk with you."

"Have I been unmerciful except to those who are confessed murderers,

and those who are only awaiting a chance to kill?"

"No," he replied, reluctantly.

"Do you not see how impossible it is to accomplish what your people

want to do, by the commission of crimes? You, who were one of the men

waiting to kill me as soon as I came out of the house of your

sister--what was your first thought when my men fell upon and arrested

you? Did you not think that your sister had betrayed you all to me?"