THE STORY OF A NIHILIST CONSPIRACY.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 2499, 30 August 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE STORY OF A NIHILIST CONSPIRACY.

In the reading-room of a Liberal olub in the south of London (writes Mr. A. MueDougall in tire NeuseasUc ireekty Chronicle) , I was introduced the other evening to a gentleman who has been long resident in Russia. In the course of a very interesting conversation he recounted to me a story of a crime perpetrated some two years ago, during a Nihilist agitation, in the ancient town of O ,in Russia. The story in question, I am informed, has hitherto remained unpublished, although ic i» well enough known in Russian revolutionary cii'cles. One bitterly cool winter’s evening, towards the close of the year 1837, five men were seated together. in a small room in a house situated in the Jewish quarter of a busy and largely-populated Russian city. The appearance of the room was as wretched as the external aspect of the house itself. The solitary window was totally concealed by a heavy faded curtain, depending from the roof, and as the wind moaned dismally through the broken panes of glass, its sombre foils swayed to and fro. The inmates of this mournful den were seated round tbe table, smoking their pipes and talking, as if furtively, iu whispers. As the feeble rays of the caudle fell fitfully upon tlio company they revealed the youthful faces of four students. The chief spokesman, however, was a much older man, apparently about fifty, with a short pointed beard, shaggy brows, and keen penetrating eyes of the darkest hue. The others deferentially addressed the speaker as “ professor,” and such, indeed, he was, at that time, at a well-known school of medicine in Russia. On the present occasion, however, lie was speaking, not of science, but of the terrible doctrine of assassination. Professor V was a Nihilist—a reputed Colossus of craft and cunning in the dissemination of revolutionary doctrines, and on tbe particular evening* in question ho was engaged in advocating, with fiery eloquence, the assassination of a certain colonel who had lately been promoted to the rank of Chief Commissioner of the Secret Police. As the night wore on their whispered conversations were suddenly interrupted by a low knocking at the outer door. In a moment the conspirators sprang noiselessly to their feet, and listonedwithbated breath. The sound was repeated -a peculiar whistle was heard from without, and then the listeners exchanged significant glances and quietly resumed their seats. Presently ea utious footsteps were heard iu an outer room, the door was opened, and a young man hastily entered. His face was pale, his manner scorned agitated, and as he returned his companions’ salutations, he regarded them with a fixed and angry stare. “ You have kept us waiting, comrade,” exclaimed tbe professor, puffing calmly at his pipe. “ Ugh ! wo are almost frozen, for the air of this wretched apartment is quite Siberian. But now t*o business. We will warm ourselves with talk, and tire our minds with tlio prospect of revenge.” There was a murmur of approval. It was noticed, however, that the young man who had just appeared upon the scene took his seat in silence, and, resting his elbows upon tlio table, slowly scrutinised the faces of his comrades. “My dear professor,” he said, at length, wo cannot possibly proceed at present with this business.” “ Why not?” was unanimously asked. “ Because,” replied the latest comer, at ho quietly snuffed tlio candle, “ because one of us is a traitor." “A traitor !” exclaimed the nion, starting to their feet, in the utmost astonishment. “Yes, comrades, we are betrayed; and as no one knows of this plot of ours except ourselves, it is plain, I think, that one of us has turned informant.” “You aro mad to say so?” hoarsely oxclairsed the professor; “but, in Heaven’s name, what has happened? Como, tell us quickly. This is no jesting matter.” “ Listen, then. On my way hither, comrades, I entered the Cafe do Paris to sip a cup of tea and smoke a cigarette. I happened to sit down beside two officers of the Secret Police, and, ns one of them was somewhat tipsy, I could distinctly hear his conversation. I found it rather interesting. Ho told his companion that he was under orders fo surround this old deserted house at midnight -it is near 11 now and to arrest all persons found within. He mentioned, moreover, all otn- names, and added, with a maudlin laugh, that a certain person ' o whom Administration is eternally indebted, would bo found in our midst playing the part of conspirator. Now. comrades, I have done. What shall wo do P* Thc'mon looked at each other iu dismay. A dead silence tilled the room, for the mere suspicion of treachery among men who had solemnly dedicated their lives to the sacred cau*e of liberty seemed to hold them dumb. .Siu-h villaiuy in their very midst—among men bunded together in sacred brotherhood—was a. greater crime than the merciless acts of a despot and his minions. “If this is true,” aaid the professor, in a voice of suppressed rage, 4 4 then I will no longer believe in human fidelity, or the future of our cause. But—Death ! if the story is true. Which of us is the informer?” added the speaker, staring fiercely at the pale fares of his companions. “ Bo.h ! it in useless to ask that, my dear professor,” exclaimed Ivan—-such was the name of the youth who hud brought the strange intelligence—as ho advanced to the door of the room, locked it, and placed tho key in his pocket. “ Every ono will assert his innocence —of course. But, comrades, suppose wo endeavour to find him out ? Let us search each other. The traitor, whoever he may be, must, doubtless have in his possession some proof of his guilt. At least, tho experiment is worth trying. What say you ?” “ Agreed ! agreed !” said the N ihilists, as with one accord they sprang convulsively to their feet. One of the students -a tall, lank youth, with a somewhat foppish appearance object»■ i. however, to tho proposal. 44 But why ?’ hotly demanded the professor, who .seetni i :.!l eagerness to begin the investiga-

“ Because,” was the hesitating rejoinder, •‘because it is unnecessary. Our word of honour ought to bo enough. Besides, there | is something degrading ' in tho idea of ! searching one another, as if, indeed, we were a lot of pick pockets. Bo lot :ih break up the meeting. This exoitement is absurd, and render.- the discussion of our plot impossible. As for flu- story told by the drunken soldier in the nr/r, 1 don't believe a word of it.” These words produced an angry murmur among tho excited conspirators. The protest scorned so ridiculous ; and as the clamour . increased Ivan turned to the speaker and warmly exclaimed, 44 Very well, we shall abstain from .searching you, since you wish it ; but remember this, that if we fail to find a duo to the informant among those who willingly submit t.» the examination wo shall then know ripen whom to fix our su.sptci.ou-). ready. In a moment tho speaker 3 pockets were emptied of their contents, and even the lining of his clothes was carefully searched; but beyond a few old love letters, some political pamphlets, and an English newspaper with a paragraph obliterated with lamp-black, nothing of an incriminating character was found. A second student readily submitted tu> the tost—-if test it was —with similar results. Then a third sf -pped forward ntul placed himself iu tho bands of his companions. But ut. that moment, a curious inoidont occurred. An invisible hand suddenly extinguished tlio© light of the candle, and in u second the room was plunged in utter darkness. What did it mean ? Who hud quenched tho light? For a moment the Nihilists remained motionless, a i it' rooted to th© spot. As they listened in alarm, they heard a strange creaking sound in the direction of tho curtai r.cd win do w. Suddenly tho voice of Ivan exclaimed in tho darkness, “ Comrades, tin's is a trick : Listen i so me on© is endeavouring to escape by the window ! It is the traitor - at last. His attempt to escape betrays his guilt. Stand back ! 1 know how to deal with him !” in an instant tho report of three revolver shots rang through the room, end was followed by an agonised yell as some one fell ( heavily upon tho tloor. A profound silence : then ensued. It was -an awful situation, J At length Ivun spoke to his terrified companions. "** .Strike a light now,” he said, in a trem-

bling voice, “ and let: us look rip oh the face of a traitor. Will no one mover Are you all afraid to gaze upon the dead body of a miscreant, who has betrayed us to our enemies? Come, professor, where are the matches? You had them last. But hush! What sound is that? Listen. By heavens, comrades, the police are upon us already. The house is surrounded ? Quick ! here is a trap-door, known only to myself. It leads to the main sewer, and is our only hope of escape. Follow me.'’ Groping hand in hand in the dark, the affrighted men followed the speaker’s directions, and, after some momentary confusion, disappeared into a noisome abyss, .isone too soon. In another instant Ihc door of th room was battered to pieces, an I a company of gendarmes entered. Lights were now flashed in every direction, but it was obvious to all that the conspirators had escaped. The officer in charge sworfc long and deep, and ordered the men to search the house from top to bottom. Then, advancing towards the window, he stumbled over a human body. “What’s this?” he exclaimed, examining the dead man’s features with a lauthorn. “ Ha ! so they have caught you at last, my friend, have they? Well, you played the spy long and well, but it always comes to this in the end.” And, tearing down the window curtain, the officer threw it. over* the rigid body of the professor