perhaps true what you say," he cried; "it's very English, very
honest, and, if you will forgive me, young man, very simple. You say
that we Russians are conceited. No, we are not conceited, but we see
farther than the rest of the world. Is that our curse? Perhaps it is,
but equally, perhaps, we may save the world by it. Now look at me! Am I
a fine man? No, I am not. Every one knows I am not. No man could look at
my face and say that I am a fine man. I have done disgraceful things all
my life. All present know some of the things I have done, and there are
some worse things which nobody knows save myself. Well, then.... Am I
going to stop doing such things? Am I now, at fifty-five, about to
become instantly a saint? Indeed not. I shall continue to do the things
that I have already done, and I shall drop into a beastly old age. I
know it.

"So, young man, I am a fair witness. You may trust me to speak the truth
as I see it. I believe in Christ. I believe in the Christ-life, the
Christ-soul. If I could, I would stop my beastliness and become
Christlike. I have tried on several occasions, and failed, because I
have no character. But does that mean that I do not believe in it when I
see it? Not at all. I believe in it more than ever. And so with
Russia--you don't see far enough, young man, neither you nor any of your
countrymen. It is one of your greatest failings that you do not care for
ideas. How is this war going to end? By the victory of Germany?
Perhaps.... Perhaps even it may be that Russia by her weakness will help
to that victory. But is that the end? No.... If Russia has an Idea and
because of her faith in that Idea, she will sacrifice everything, will
be buffeted on both cheeks, will be led into slavery, will deliver up
her land and her people, will be mocked at by all the world... perhaps
that is her destiny.... She will endure all that in order that her Idea
may persist. And her Idea will persist. Are not the Germans and
Austrians human like ourselves? Slowly, perhaps very slowly, they will
say to themselves: 'There is Russia who believes in the peace of the
world, in the brotherhood of man, and she will sacrifice everything for
it, she will go out, as Christ did, and be tortured and be
crucified--and then on the third day she will rise again.' Is not that
the history of every triumphant Idea?... You say that meanwhile Germany
will triumph. Perhaps for a time she may, but our Idea will not die.

"The further Ge