‘Yes, but why did you take it upon yourself to be the one? And why did you shoot him?’
‘Do you have any news. . concerning his condition? Is he. .?’ Virginsky was unable to complete the question.
‘He’s still alive, if that’s what you mean. He is being cared for at the Obukhovsky Hospital. Perhaps we should go there and finish the job off?’ Dolgoruky grinned maliciously.
‘I. . I imagine he is closely guarded.’
‘Yes, but to a daredevil like you, what does that matter? I like your disguise, by the way. That will serve you well. You can turn up at the hospital pretending to be a workman — there is always some work or other to be done in those filthy, crumbling wrecks. In amongst your bag of tools, you hide a gun, or some dynamite — do you know what dynamite is?’
Virginsky nodded.
‘There! What could be simpler?’
‘I don’t have. . any tools,’ objected Virginsky lamely. He added, ‘I cannot conceive of acting without the authorisation of the central committee.’
‘Why not? You did before.’
‘No, you are mistaken. As I said, I was called upon — ’
‘I think not. I was there, remember. I don’t think anyone explicitly called upon you to do what you have done. You acted on your own initiative. The central committee would be within their rights to hang you out to dry.’
‘They would not dare!’
‘Oh my goodness, listen to him! Now he threatens the central committee!’
‘What do you want, Dolgoruky?’
‘Do you have any tea?’
‘No. There is no tea. And no one to provide it.’
‘What did it feel like?’
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘When you squeezed the trigger and saw what you had done. When you saw him there bleeding. . What did you feel?’
Virginsky hesitated before answering. ‘I don’t know. It’s hard to say. I felt. . different. I felt as if my life would never be the same again.’
Dolgoruky shook his head impatiently. ‘Of course! That goes without saying. That is nothing. But. . you felt free? For the first time in your life, you were free!’
‘Yes, for a moment. In the instant I pulled the trigger. As the bullet was released. Yes, then, in that moment, I was free.’ Virginsky shook his head violently, as if he were trying to cast out from it a weight of unhappiness. ‘But look at me now. I am a prisoner in this infernal apartment. Can you believe she locked me in?! And when I am moved from here, I will be a prisoner somewhere else.’
‘Until the moment when your crime is multiplied across society. When an army of men like you each stands up and shoots. . a magistrate here, a minister there, a governor in this province, the marshal of the nobility in that! When your lead is followed, and widespread destruction is unleashed, you will be once again free.’
Virginsky sighed, as if he found Dolgoruky’s vision oppressive. He gave him a critical look. ‘And what if no one rises up?’
‘Don’t be despondent, my friend. The day will come. And you have helped to hasten it. I was talking to someone who. .’ Dolgoruky broke off, and began to pick his words more carefully: ‘Someone who. . considers himself. . to be a friend of yours. . to have your best interests at heart. Who, it might be said, has followed your career with interest.’
‘Who is this?’
‘I am not at liberty to reveal his name. It is too dangerous for you, as well as for him. Still and all, this man — let us just call him “Dyavol,” for that is a soubriquet it amuses him to answer to — this man — ’
‘Dyavol? The Devil? Is this your demon that you’re talking about?’ Virginsky gave a sarcastic laugh.
‘No. This is a real man. A man of flesh and blood. He is known as Dyavol amongst our people, though in truth, I look upon him more as some kind of god. He has had a tremendous influence on me.’
‘Not Lebezyatnikov?!’ cried Virginsky incredulously.
‘Don’t try to get his name out of me. I will not even answer your questions. However, as I was saying, if you would only let me finish you would hear something that redounds to your considerable credit. .’
‘Go on.’
‘This man, this great man, believes that your action may well prove crucial in heralding in the next, necessary phase of the struggle that will bring about the end of the regime. Widespread violence and destruction are on the brink of being unleashed. This is palpable. I for one feel it. When the time comes, you will take your place amongst the heroes of the revolution.’
‘I would like to meet this man. Would this be possible?’
‘Quite out of the question.’
‘You know,’ began Virginsky tentatively. ‘Last night, I thought about your demon. I imagined I had a demon of my own. I will not say he was real to me. But certainly I considered the possibility of his reality.’
Dolgoruky’s reaction was unsurprised, matter-of-fact. ‘This is what happens when you take the step that you and I have taken. When one transgresses. .’
‘What did you do, Dolgoruky? What was your crime?’
‘The more one transgresses, the more real one’s demon becomes. All this is very perplexing and ironic. I don’t believe in demons, and the only god I acknowledge is. . myself. And perhaps, also, the great man I have just told you about. And to prove that I don’t believe in it all, I set about. .’ There was something shocking about the innocently mischievous giggle that Dolgoruky let out. Virginsky had the sense that it was far from appropriate to the enormity of Dolgoruky’s actual crimes. ‘Sinning.’ He put his hand in front of his mouth like a naughty child. ‘Yes. I sinned to banish the demon, but it only made him more real.’
Virginksy looked over Dolgoruky’s shoulder. ‘Is he here now?’
‘I left him outside the apartment.’
‘Shall we not let him in?’
‘It will do no good. You will not be able to see him. I took him to see Lebezyatnikov. I thought if anyone could see him it would be my old tutor.’
‘Did you introduce him to Kozodavlev?’
‘Why bring up Kozodavlev? You’re not still interested in Kozodavlev, are you? That was before. When you were with him.’ Dolgoruky screwed up his face distastefully. ‘He claimed that I did not interest him!’
‘It’s just that when you mentioned Lebezyatnikov, I naturally thought of Kozodavlev.’
‘Why naturally?’
‘Because Kozodavlev attacked Lebezyatnikov in print.’
‘Ah yes.’ Dolgoruky gave a distracted smile.
‘I believe you acted as an agent in the transactions.’
Dolgoruky’s air of distraction deepened. Virginsky had the sense that it was an evasive strategy.
‘As you did in the articles Kozodavlev wrote attacking my former professor.’
Dolgoruky could not prevent himself from being interested in what Virginsky was saying. ‘Your former professor? You mean. .?’
‘Tatiscev.’
‘I see. So you know Professor Tatiscev.’
‘And knowing him to be a man of great integrity, a man whose radical credentials are beyond question, who is furthermore known to be sympathetic to the cause of social revolution, I must confess that I was surprised to find him the target of Kozodavlev’s barbs. Equally, I am disappointed that you played a part in that transaction too, a sordid part, if I may say so.’
‘But you don’t understand. All that was. . well, let’s just say, it was Dyavol’s idea.’
‘Is Dyavol a member of the central committee?’
Dolgoruky shrugged. ‘Dyavol is Dyavol. He needs no one’s authority but his own.’
Virginsky’s face lit up with sudden realisation. ‘Dyavol is “D.” The author of Swine!’
Dolgoruky’s cracked grin left room for the possibility that he was right.
‘And, if I remember rightly,’ continued Virginsky, ‘there is a character in the book called Dyavol. He wrote the book and put himself in it! But why? Is he an anti-revolutionist? It does not portray our people in a very good light.’