Freeman apparently knew the two men well, and after being introduced to the woman, he sat down. “We received your word that you had something to propose,” began the older of the men. “We are ready to hear what it is.” “You know me, Dr. Razoff, and you can guess its nature.” Drexel could see the correspondent’s black eyes glitter. “If it is one of your terroristic plans, you could have saved us all the trouble of this meeting,” returned Razoff. “You know we do not approve of such action.” “And that’s one reason you have not succeeded better! The only way you can move these despots is by fear. Fear of immediate and awful annihilation! Blow enough of them up, and you can’t get a man bold enough to hold office. Then the Government is yours!” “You have been directing terroristic plots for two years; you are the most implacable terrorist----” “And the most successful,” put in Freeman. “And the most successful that Russia has known. And what have you gained?” “Ah, but what am I, and the few that gather around me, and the few executions that we carry out, among a myriad of despots? Let there be a thousand terroristic groups, and then you shall see!” Razoff shook his head. “But since we are here, we might as well hear what you have to propose.” “They have Borodin, and most likely we cannot free him. Well--make them afraid to arrest another leader. An eye for an eye--a leader for a leader. They have removed one of our men; as a lesson, let us remove one of theirs.” “Which one?” “The highest possible. The Czar himself, if the coward had not imprisoned himself in his palace and surrounded himself with an army. Since not the Czar, then his highest representative in St. Petersburg. Let’s kill the military governor.” “Kill Prince Valenko!” the three ejaculated together. “Aye, Prince Valenko, the very arch-foe of freedom!” cried the terrorist. “That will teach them it is not safe to go too far!” There was a short silence. “What do you say, Sonya?” Razoff asked the woman. She shook her head. “And you Pestel?” “I am against terrorism.” “And that, Mr. Freeman, would be the answer of the entire Central Committee,” said Razoff. “We would not assist in a terroristic plot.” “But I do not want your aid. What I want is your sanction. To have the proper intimidating effect, the death of Prince Valenko should not be the act of an isolated individual, but the act of a great organization that stands ready to repeat it.” “That sanction we cannot give you.” “But if I could make the proposal direct to The White One, I’m sure he would see the matter differently. Can you not let me see him?” “As I have told you on other occasions, we are not allowed to do so.” An angry look flamed into the terrorist’s lean dark face. “Then you don’t trust me!” he burst out. “We may differ in methods, but have I not proved my devotion to our cause?”