Page:The Career of a Nihilist.djvu/25

Andrey said that these precautions were superfluous in Switzerland. But Lena was not easily persuaded; like most women engaged in conspiracies, she was a strict observer of the rules.

“But perhaps you’ll accept a compromise,” she said, relenting.

She tore off the first half of the letter containing the personal matters, and carefully erased the few pieces of cipher.

“You want to read this, don’t you?” she asked.

“Never mind. I accept your bargain. I like this part certainly better, and give up my claim upon the rest,” said Andrey, whilst the girl, kneeling before the fireplace, carefully burned the remainder, together with the two sheets upon which they had worked out the cipher. Her conscience at ease, she resumed her seat.

“So you are leaving us, Andrey,” she said, dreamily.

There was a greater warmth than usual in the tone of her voice, and in the look of her honest bold blue eyes as she fixed them upon her companion. For those who remain, there is always something touching in the sight of a man, about to leave his place of refuge, and risk his life once more in the dominions of the Tzar.

“Will you start soon?” she asked.

“Yes,” said Andrey. “The money and the passport will be here in three or four days, I hope. That is quite long enough for my preparations.”

Then, after a hardly perceptible pause, he added abruptly,

“I wish I knew whether they have already found out his name.”

“Whom do you mean?” inquired the girl, lifting her eyes.

“Boris. Who else?”

That great loss had not ceased gnawing at Andrey’s heart all the time, notwithstanding his apparent calmness and cheerfulness.

“I do not think they could discover it so soon,” Lena answered. “Boris has never been in Dubravnik before. Besides, George would have mentioned a point of such importance.”

“I wish you were right,” said Andrey. “The rescue would be so much easier. Anyhow I shall soon know all about it.”

They talked business. The girl had evidently some