s needed to keep myself in trim.... But NOW I am accepted as a
BOLSHEVIK,--one of the elect, privileged to select my lady and rob and
pillage when I please!... _This suits me very well_ ... but on mature
_reflection_ it seems to me that a FEW in this literally UNGODLY gang
are playing a very cunning part.... If that BE so I am _not_ so sure
how far my own assumed conversion to the doctrine of rapine will
protect my skin.... So far, however, I have adopted the policy of
vindictiveness, and, when asked a question, I merely growl and swear
like a trooper.... _I am making an impression_...."

21. "On the way here the HERO of Gallipoli took quite a fancy to me,
because I could beat him swearing perhaps.... Growing confidential
over his liquor and Turkish cigarettes he asked point-blank: 'Didn't I
see you at the TWELFTH DAY CEREMONY at the Winter Palace the time the
Archbishop lost the golden cross in the river, a few years ago?'...
I thought it better to deny the acquaintance and the incident.... I
could have easily recalled the ceremony on the Neva, the decorated
pavilion on the ice in front of the palace, the procession of church
dignitaries in their stiff Byzantine robes and scintillating mitres
moving slowly across the road followed by the Grand Dukes and the
Emperor, the clear voices of the choir cutting through the frosty
air, the ladies of the Court standing near the window and crossing
themselves as the Czar stood motionless beneath the gilded and fretted
canopy,--_I could have recalled it all_ ... but I swore profanely and
declared emphatically that ALL RELIGION WAS A COBWEB AND A SNARE to
emancipated minds.... I pretended to get violently MAD about it and
told him I would strangle any man who insulted me by accusing me of
the most distant relationship with any religion excepting the religion
of FREE LOVE.... He laughed like a lion with a sliver in its paw. 'You
are _absolutely_ the best COUNTERFEIT in circulation that I know of!'
he guffawed. 'Well, I'm going to fire Syvorotka and put you in
charge of a little FIRING SQUAD when we get to our camping ground at
Ekaterinburg!' were his exact words, half whispered, half insinuated
and wholly growled across the table in the diner.... With assumed
hostility I actually barked: 'The dirtier the deviltry the more
diverting!'... He opened his eyes widely like one emerging from a
solemn drunk and WINKED knowingly as he shook my hand.... 'You know
where Kerensky got his orders