"I appreciate your other reasons," I said. "You have already shown what a friend you are. Why did you drag Maroossia into your business? You probably are well protected against any disagreeable event, but we are not. So next time please, use your other reasons...." "There was no dragging your wife into my business. The package of laces she took to Madame van der Hüchts is not a crime. Besides everything is over; so, as if nothing had happened." "Yes, it probably is nothing. Misha would be of a different opinion, I am sure." "No, he would not." There was a silence for a while, and then she said, sighing: (_line illegible_...) "For instance, we wanted to give you the whole outline inviting you to do something for your country--and you refused to help." "Baroness," I said, "honestly and truly I don't understand these speculations. Just as honestly and just as truly I don't care for them, no matter what they are for. I hate this manner of operation. The manner! I hate plots. I hate underground work, and the only thing I care for--is my own comfort and my own affairs." "You don't know what you are talking about," she said, "or the atmosphere has made you so clever, that I don't know whether you are trying to get something out of me or not. Very well, I _am conspiring_. I am now with these people, with whom I would not have thought of being--only three months ago. As soon as I succeed--I shall leave all and become free and independent...." Then she corrected herself; "I don't mean to say, of course, I am not independent now, but.... What time is it?" I told her. "Thank you. So you see.... What were we talking about?... Ah, yes, indeed,--how silly of me! Well so I am in a big game. It may seem that I am in the wrong. But think of the time when there will be a moment, when just a few persons, maybe only one person, will be able to appear again on the stage and become the nucleus of regeneration? And if I am wrong--and such moment will never come--it is so easy to get rid of those whom many persons are trying to preserve...." "Yes," I said, smiling at her enthusiasm and innocent cynicism. "Please omit your insinuations and sarcasm, you bad thing. I only see you are not patriotic, or you have something personal against me." "You can judge better than others on this last point. It looks to me as though you were wrong about the rest, however.... (_a page torn out_)