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people a higher standard of life； inculcated by the latest writers of other
countries。 She was handsome； a little inclined to stoutness： she had a good
complexion； shining black eyes； abundant black hair。 She inspired the men
she knew with feelings she neither wished nor had time to share； busy as
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she was with propaganda work； which consisted chiefly in mere talking。
She was not displeased； however； to inspire these feelings； and； without
dressing too smartly； did not neglect her appearance。 She liked to be
admired； as it gave her opportunities of showing how little she prized what
was valued so highly by other women。
In her views concerning the method of fighting the government she
went further than the majority of her comrades； and than her friend Turin；
all means； she taught； were justified in such a struggle； not excluding
murder。 And yet； with all her revolutionary ideas； Katia Turchaninova was
in her soul a very kind girl； ready to sacrifice herself for the welfare and
the happiness of other people； and sincerely pleased when she could do a
kindness to anybody； a child； an old person； or an animal。
She went in the summer to stay with a friend； a schoolmistress in a
small town on the river Volga。 Turin lived near that town； on his father's
estate。 He often came to see the two girls； they gave each other books to
read； and had long discussions； expressing their common indignation with
the state of affairs in the country。 The district doctor； a friend of theirs；
used also to join them on many occasions。
The estate of the Turins was situated in the neighbourhood of the
Liventsov estate； the one that was entrusted to the management of Peter
Nikolaevich Sventizky。 Soon after Peter Nikolaevich had settled there；
and begun to enforce order； young Turin； having observed an independent
tendency in the peasants on the Liventsov estate； as well as their
determination to uphold their rights； became interested in them。 He came
often to the village to talk with the men； and developed his socialistic
theories； insisting particularly on the nationalisation of the land。
After Peter Nikolaevich had been murdered； and the murderers sent to
trial； the revolutionary group of the small town boiled over with
indignation； and did not shrink from openly expressing it。 The fact of
Turin's visits to the village and his propaganda work among the students；
became known to the authorities during the trial。 A search was made in his
house； and； as the police found a few revolutionary leaflets among his
effects； he was arrested and transferred to prison in St。 Petersburg。
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Katia Turchaninova followed him to the metropolis； and went to visit
him in prison。 She was not admitted on the day she came； and was told
to come on the day fixed by regulations for visits to the prisoners。 When
that day arrived； and she was finally allowed to see him； she had to talk to
him through two gratings separating the prisoner from his visitor。 This
visit increased her indignation against the authorities。 And her feelings
become all the more revolutionary after a visit she paid to the office of a
gendarme officer who had to deal with the Turin case。 The officer； a
handsome man； seemed obviously disposed to grant her exceptional
favours in visiting the prisoner； if she would allow him to make love to her。
Disgusted with him； she appealed to the chief of police。 He pretendedjust
as the officer did when talking officially to her to be powerless himself；
and to depend entirely on orders coming from the minister of state。 She
sent a petition to the minister asking for an interview； which was refused。
Then she resolved to do a desperate thing and bought a revolver。
XXII
THE minister was receiving petitioners at the usual hour appointed for
the reception。 He had talked successively to three of them； and now a
pretty young woman with black eyes； who was holding a petition in her
left hand； approached。 The minister's eyes gleamed when he saw how
attractive the petitioner was； but recollecting his high position he put on a
serious face。
〃What do you want？〃 he asked； coming down to where she stood。
Without answering his question the young woman quickly drew a revolver
from under her cloak and aiming it at the minister's chest fired but
missed him。
The minister rushed at her； trying to seize her hand； but she escaped；
and taking a step back； fired a second time。 The minister ran out of the
room。 The woman was immediately seized。 She was trembling violently；
and could not utter a single word； after a while she suddenly burst into a
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hysterical laugh。 The minister was not even wounded。
That woman was Katia Turchaninova。 She was put into the prison of
preliminary detention。 The minister received congratulations and marks
of sympathy from the highest quarters； and even from the emperor himself；
who appointed a commission to investigate the plot that had led to the
attempted assassination。 As a matter of fact there was no plot whatever；
but the police officials and the detectives set to work with the utmost zeal
to discover all the threads of the non…existing conspiracy。 They did
everything to deserve the fees they were paid； they got up in the small
hours of the morning； searched one house after another； took copies of
papers and of books they found； read diaries； personal letters； made
extracts from them on the very best notepaper and in beautiful handwriting；
interrogated Katia Turchaninova ever so many times； and confronted her
with all those whom they suspected of conspiracy； in order to extort from
her the names of her accomplices。
The minister； a good…natured man at heart； was sincerely sorry for the
pretty girl。 But he said to himself that he was