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And then I came out again in full vigournay； with vastly increased
powers； for though Mark Shrewsbury did not add very much to me； or
alter my appearance； yet his graphic words made me much more
impressive than I had been under the management of Mrs。 Selldon。
〃H'm！ that's a queer story；〃 said the limp…looking young man from
Switzerland。 〃I say； have a game of billiards； will you？〃
Shrewsbury； with prodigious yawn； dragged himself up out of his chair；
and the two went off together。 As they left the room the only other man
present looked up from his newspaper； following them with his eyes。
〃Shrewsbury the novelist；〃 he thought to himself。 〃A sterling fellow！
And he heard it from an Archdeacon's wife。 Confound it all！ the thing
must be true then。 I'll write and make full inquiries about this Zaluski
before consenting to the engagement。〃
And； being a prompt； business…like man； Gertrude Morley's uncle sat
down and wrote the following letter to a Russian friend of his who lived at
St。 Petersburg； and who might very likely be able to give some account of
Zaluski：…
Dear Leonoff；Some very queer stories are afloat about a young
Polish merchant； by name Sigismund Zaluski； the head of the London
branch of the firm of Zaluski and Zernoff； at St。 Petersburg。 Will you
kindly make inquiries for me as to his true character and history？ I
would not trouble you with this affair； but the fact is Zaluski has made an
offer of marriage to one of my wards； and before consenting to any
betrothal I must know what sort of man he really is。 I take it for granted
that 〃there is no smoke without fire；〃 and that there must be something in
the very strange tale which I have just heard on the best authority。 It is
said that this Sigismund Zaluski left St。 Petersburg in March 1881； after
the assassination of the late Czar； in which he was seriously compromised。
He is said to be an out…and…out Nihilist； an atheist； and； in short； a
dangerous； disreputable fellow。 Will you sift the matter for me？ I don't
wish to dismiss the fellow without good reason； but of course I could not
think of permitting him to be engaged to my niece until these charges are
entirely disproved。
With kind remembrances to your father；
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
I am； yours faithfully；
HENRY CRICHTON…MORLEY。
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
MY SEVENTH STAGE
Yet on the dull silence breaking With a lightning flash； a word；
Bearing endless desolation On its blighting wings； I heard； Earth can forge
no keener weapon； Dealing surer death and pain； And the cruel echo
answered Through long years again。 A。 A。 PROCTER
Curiously enough； I must actually have started for Russia on the
same day that Sigismund Zaluski was summoned by his uncle at St。
Petersburg to return on a matter of urgent business。 I learnt afterwards
that the telegram arrived at Muddleton on the afternoon of one of those
sunny September days and found Zaluski as usual at the Morleys。 He
was very much annoyed at being called away just then； and before he had
received any reply from Gertrude's uncle as to the engagement。 However；
after a little ebullition of anger； he regained his usual philosophic tone； and；
reminding Gertrude that he need not be away from England for more than
a fortnight； he took leave of her and set off in a prompt； manly fashion；
leaving most of his belongings at Ivy Cottage； which was his for another
six weeks； and to which he hoped shortly to return。
After a weary time of imprisonment in my envelope； I at length
reached my destination at St。 Petersburg and was read by Dmitry Leonoff。
He was a very busy man； and by the same post received dozens of other
letters。 He merely muttered〃That well…known firm！ A most unlikely
story！〃and then thrust me into a drawer with other letters which had to be
answered。 Very probably I escaped his memory altogether for the next
few days： however； there I wasa startling accusation in black and white；
and； as everybody knows； St。 Petersburg is not London。
The Leonoff family lived on the third storey of a large block of
buildings in the Sergeffskaia。 About two o'clock in the morning； on the
third day after my arrival； the whole household was roused from sleep by
thundering raps on the door； and the dreaded cry of 〃Open to the police。〃
The unlucky master was forced to allow himself； his wife； and his
children to be made prisoners； while every corner of the house was
searched and every book and paper examined。
Leonoff had nothing whatever to do with the Revolutionary movement；
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
but absolute innocence does not free people from the police inquisition；
and five or six years ago； when the Search mania was at its height； a case
is on record of a poor lady whose house was searched seven times within
twenty…four hours； though there was no evidence whatever that she was
connected with the Nihilists； the whole affair was； in fact； a
misunderstanding； as she was perfectly innocent。
This search in Dmitry Leonoff's house was also a misunderstanding；
and in the dominions of the Czar misunderstandings are of frequent
occurrence。
Leonoff knew himself to be innocent； and he felt no fear； though
considerable annoyance； while the search was prosecuted； he could hardly
believe the evidence of his senses when； without a word of explanation； he
was informed that he must take leave of his wife and children； and go in
charge of the gendarmes to the House of Preventive Detention。
Being a sensible man； he kept his temper； remarked courteously that
some mistake must have been made； embraced his weeping wife； and went
off passively； while the pristav carried away a bundle of letters in which I
occupied the most prominent place。
Leonoff remained a pris