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occupied the most prominent place。
Leonoff remained a prisoner only for a few days； there was not a shred
of evidence against him； and； having suffered terrible anxiety； he was
finally released。 But Mr。 Crichton…Morley's letter was never restored to
him； it remained in the hands of the authorities； and the night after
Leonoff's arrest the pristav； the procurator； and the gendarmes made their
way into the dwelling of Sigismund Zaluski's uncle； where a similar
search was prosecuted。
Sigismund was asleep and dreaming of Gertrude and of his idyllic
summer in England； when his bedroom door was forced open and he was
roughly roused by the gendarmes。
His first feeling was one of amazement； his second； one of indignation；
however； he was obliged to get up at once and dress； the policeman
rigorously keeping guard over him the whole time for fear he should
destroy any treasonable document。
〃How I shall make them laugh in England when I tell them of this
ridiculous affair！〃 reflected Sigismund； as he was solemnly marched into
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
the adjoining room； where he found his uncle and cousins； each guarded
by a policeman。
He made some jesting remark； but was promptly reprimanded by his
gaoler； and in wearisome silence the household waited while the most
rigorous search of the premises was made。
Of course nothing was found； but； to the amazement of all； Sigismund
was formally arrested。
〃There must be some mistake；〃 he exclaimed； 〃I have been resident in
England for some time。 I have no connection whatever with Russian
politics。〃
〃Oh； we are well aware of your residence in England；〃 said the pristav。
〃You left St。 Petersburg early in March 1881。 We are well aware of that。〃
Something in the man's tone made Sigismund's heart stand still。 Could
he possibly be suspected of complicity in the plot to assassinate the late
Czar？ The idea would have made him laugh had he been in England。
In St。 Petersburg； and under these circumstances； it made him tremble。
〃There is some terrible mistake；〃 he said。 〃I have never had the
slightest connection with the revolutionary party。〃
The pristav shrugged his shoulders； and Sigismund； feeling like one in
a dream； took leave of his relations； and was escorted at once to the House
of Preventive Detention。
Arrived at his destination； he was examined in a brief； unsatisfactory
way； but when he angrily asked for the evidence on which he had been
arrested； he was merely told that information had been received charging
him with being concerned in the assassination of the late Emperor； and of
being an advanced member of the Nihilist party。 His vehement denials
were received with scornful incredulity； his departure for England just
after the assassination； and his prolonged absence from Russia； of course
gave colour to the accusation； and he was ordered off to his cell 〃to
reflect。〃
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
MY TRIUMPHANT FINALE
Words are mighty； words are living； Serpents with their venomous
stings； Or bright angels crowding round us； With heaven's light upon their
wings； Every word has its own spirit； True or false； that never dies； Every
word man's lips have uttered Echoes in God's skies。 A。 A。 PROCTER。
My labours were now nearly at an end； and being； so to speak； off
duty； I could occupy myself just as I pleased。 I therefore resolved to keep
watch over Zaluski in his prison。
For the first few hours after his arrest he was in a violent passion； he
paced up and down his tiny cell like a lion in a cage； he was beside
himself with indignation； and the blood leapt through his veins like
wildfire。
Then he became a little ashamed of himself and tried to grow quiet；
and after a sleepless night he passed to the opposite extreme and sat all
day long on the solitary stool in his grim abode； his head resting on his
hands； and his mind a prey to the most fearful melancholy。
The second night； however； he slept； and awoke with a steady resolve
in his mind。
〃It will never do to give way like this； or I shall be in a brain fever in
no time；〃 he reflected。 〃I will get leave to have books and writing
materials。 I will make the best of a bad business。〃
He remembered how pleased he had been when Gertrude had once
smiled on him because； when all the others in the party were grumbling at
the discomforts of a certain picnic where the provisions had gone astray；
he had gaily made the best of it and ransacked the nearest cottages for
bread…and…cheese。 He set to work bravely now； hoped daily for his
release； read all the books he was allowed to receive； invented solitary
games； began a novel； and drew caricatures。
In October he was again examined； but； having nothing to reveal； it
was inevitable that he could reveal nothing； and he was again sent back to
his cell 〃to reflect。〃
I perceived that after this his heart began to fail him。
There existed in the House of Preventive Detention a system of
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
communication between the luckless prisoners carried on by means of
tapping on the wall。 Sigismund； being a clever fellow； had become a
great adept at this telegraphic system； and had struck up a friendship with
a young student in the next cell； this poor fellow had been imprisoned
three years； his sole offence being that he had in his possession a book of
which the Government did not approve； and that he was first cousin to a
well…known Nihilist。
The two became as devoted to each other as Silvio Pellico and Count
Oroboni； but it soon became evident to Valerian Vasilowitch that； unless
Zaluski was released； he would soon succumb to the terrible restrictions of
prison life。
〃Keep up your heart； my friend；〃 he used to say。 〃I have borne it
three years； and am still alive to tell the tale。〃