Russian Hide-and-Seek

What of it?

Yes. If the handing-over was done in stages it would never be done at all.

Why not? How does that follow?

What’s the next question?

Do I care about the English? Enough to risk my life for them?

No. I joined the revolution because I wanted to fight for what I believed in.

What do I believe in?

Is it’? Whatever my motives I was at any rate working for what I believed in.

What do I believe in?

I’ve mentioned justice and freedom. Then there’s truth and art and perseverance and power and happiness and loyalty. All the things that matter.

What does ‘matter’ mean’?

At this point Theodore broke off his internal colloquy. His cell was the first in the row, which meant that anybody arriving from upstairs was visible from it. And somebody was visible now, standing in a stooped attitude not five metres away while one guard showed another a piece of paper. It was Nina. She had a dirty bandage round her head and looked ill, listless and confused. He was going to call to her, then did not. He said to himself that it would have done no good, though he was far from clear about what he meant by that. In another moment she had gone. He let his head hang. It occurred to him that he ought to be feeling sadness, or remorse, or even a consoling awareness of duty done. But for a variety of reasons nothing of the sort was possible. All he could feel was some apprehension and a great indifference.