refused to take any food and starved himself to death.

"And your new tutor," Kollomietzev went on zealously, "is a
revolutionist, without a shadow of a doubt! Have you noticed that he is
never the first to bow to anyone?"

"Why should he?" Madame Sipiagina asked; "on the contrary, that is what
I like about him."

"I am a guest in the house in which he serves," Kollomietzev exclaimed,
"yes, serves for money, comme un salarie.... Consequently I am his
superior.... He ought to bow to me first."

"My dear Kollomietzev, you are very particular," Sipiagin put in, laying
special stress on the word dear. "I thought, if you'll forgive my saying
so, that we had outgrown all that. I pay for his services, his work, but
he remains a free man."

"He does not feel the bridle, le frein! All these revolutionists are
like that. I tell you I can smell them from afar! Only Ladisias can
compare with me in this respect. If this tutor were to fall into my
hands wouldn't I give it to him! I would make him sing a very different
tune! How he would begin touching his cap to me--it would be a pleasure
to see him!"

"Rubbish, you swaggering little braggart!" Nejdanov almost shouted
from above, but at this moment the door opened and, to his great
astonishment, Markelov entered the room.

X

NEJDANOV rose to meet him, and Markelov, coming straight up to him,
without any form of greeting, asked him if he was Alexai Dmitritch, a
student of the St. Petersburg University.

"Yes," Nejdanov replied.

Markelov took an unsealed letter out of a side pocket.

"In that case, please read this. It is from Vassily Nikolaevitch," he
added, lowering his voice significantly.

Nejdanov unfolded and read the letter. It was a semi-official circular
in which Sergai Markelov was introduced as one of "us," and absolutely
trustworthy; then followed some advice about the urgent necessity of
united action in the propaganda of their well-known principles.
The circular was addressed to Nejdanov, as being a person worthy of
confidence.

Nejdanov extended his hand to Markelov, offered him a chair, and sat
down himself.

Markelov, without saying a word, began lighting a cigarette; Nejdanov
followed his example.

"Have you managed to come in contact with the peasants here?" Markelov
asked at last.

"No, I haven't had time as yet."

"How long have you been here?"

"About a fortnight."

"Have you much to do?"

"Not very much."

Markelov gave a