THE STORY OF A NIHILIST CONSPIRACY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 35, 27 August 1892, Page 859

THE STORY OF A NIHILIST CONSPIRACY.

bitterly cold winter’s evening, towards the VlHrrKt close of the year 1887, five men were seated ■tffezßY together in a small room in a house situated in the Jewish quarter of a busy and largelyP°P u l a * e< l Russian city. The appearance of - ’cArJ' ’ tbc room was as wretched as the external aB P®ctof the houseitself. The solitary window was totally concealed by a heavy faded curtain, depending from the roof, and as the wind moaned dismallv through the broken panes of glass, its sombre folds swayed to and fro. The inmates of this mournful den were seated round the table, smoking their pipes and talking, as if furtively, in whispers. As the feeble rays of the candle fell fitfully upon the 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, he was speaking, not of science, bnt 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 the particular evening in question he 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 Scc-et 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 listened with bated breath. The sound was lepeated—a peculiar whistle was heaid from without, and then the listeners exchanged significant glances and quietly resumed thrir seats. Presently cautious footsteps were heard in an outer room, the door was opened, and a young man hastily entered. His face was pale, his manner seemed agitated, and as he returned his companions’ salutations, lie regarded them with a fixed and angry stare. • You have kept us waiting, comrade.’ exclaimed the professor, putting calmly at his pipe. • Ugh !we are almost frozen, for the air of this wretched apartment is quite Siberian. But now to business. We will warm ourselves with talk, and fire our minds with the 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 the table, slowly scrutinised the faces of his comrades. ‘ My dear professor,’ he said at length, * we cannot possibly proceed at present with this business.’ • Why not?’ was unanimously asked. • Because,’ replied the latest comer, as he quietly snuffed the candle, ‘ because one of us is a traitor.’

* A traitor !’ exclaimed the men, 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 are mad to say so I’ hoarsely exclaimed the professor ; ‘ but, in heaven’s name, what has happened ? Come, tell us quickly. This is no jesting matter.’ * Listen, then. On my way hither, comrades, I entered the Cafe de Paris to sip a cup of tea and smoke a cigarette. I happened to sit down beside two officers of the Secret Police, and, as one of them was somewhat tipsy, 1 could distinctly hear his conversation. I found it rather interesting. He told his companion that he was under orders to surround this old deserted house at midnight—it is near eleven now—and to arrest all persons found within. He mentioned, moreover, all our names, and added, with a maudlin laugh, that a certain person, to whom the Administration is eternally indebted, would be found in our midst playing the part of conspirator. Now, comrades, I have done. What shall we do?’ The men looked at each other in dismay. A dead silence filled the room, for the mere suspicion of treachery among men who had solemnly dedicated their lives to the sacred cause of liberty seemed to hold them dumb. Such villainy in their very midst—among men banded together in sacred brotherhood—was a greater crime than the merciless acts of a despot and his minions. ■ If this is true,’ said the professor, in a voice of suppressed rage, ‘then I will no longer believe in human li lelity, or the future of our cause. B it—Death ! if the story is true. Which of us is the informer?’ added the speaker, staring fiercely at the pale faces of his companions. * Bah I it is useless to ask that, my dear professor,’ exclaimed Ivan—such was the name of the youth who had brought the strange intelligence—as he advanced to the door of the room, locked it, and placed the key in his pocket. * Every one will assert his innocence—of course. But, comrades, suppose we 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, the experiment is worth trying. What say you ?’ * Agreed I agreed I’ exclaimed the Nihilists, as with one accord they sprang convulsively to their feet. One of the students—a tall, lank youth, with a somewhat foppish ap-pearance-objected, however, to the proposal. ‘ But why?’ hotly demanded the professor, who seemed all eagerness to begin the investigation. ‘ Because,’ was the hesitating rejoinder, ‘ because it is unnecessary. Our word of honour ought to be enough. Besi les, there is something degrading in the idea of searching one another, as if, indeed, we were a lot of pickpockets. So let us break up the meeting. This excitement is absurd, and renders the discussion of our plot impossible. As for the story told by the drunken soldier in the cafe, I don’t believe a word of it.’ These words produced an angry murmur among the excited conspirators. The protest seemed so ridiculous ; and

as the clamour increased Ivan turned to the speaker and warmly exclaimed, * Very well, we shall abstain fiom searching you, since you wish it ; but remember this, that if we fc.il to find a clue to the informant among those who willingly submit to the examination we shall then know upon whom to fix our suspicions. Now, comrades, search me first; lam ready.’ In a moment the speaker’s 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 to the test —if test it was—with similar results. Then a third stepped forward and placed himself in the hands of his companions. But at that moment a curious incident occurred. An invisible hand suddenly extinguished the light of the candle, and in a second the room was plunged in utter darkness.

What did it mean ? Who had quenched the light ? For a moment the Nihilists remained motionless, as if rooted to the spot. As they listened in alarm, they heard a strange creaking sound in the direction of the curtained window. Suddenly the voice of Ivan exclaimed in the darkness, * Comrades, this is a trick ! Listen I Some one is endeavouring to escape by the window I It is the traitor—at last. His attempt to escape betrays his guilt. Stand back ! 1 know how to deal with him I’ In an instant the report of three revolver shots rang through the room, and was followed by an agonised yell as some one fell heavily upon the floor. A profound silence then ensued. It was an awful situation. At length Ivan spoke to his terrified companions. ‘ Strike a light now,’ he said, in a trembling voice, ‘ and let us look upon the face of a traitor. Will no one move? Are you all afraid to gaze upon the dead body of a miscreant who Ims betrayed us to onr enemies? Come, professor, where are the matches? You had them last. But hush ! What sound i.i 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 aIE ighted men followed the speaker’s directions, and after some momentary confusion, disappeared into a noisome abyss. None too soon. In another instant the door of the room was battered to pieces, and 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 swore 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 lanthorn. * 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.