The Nihilist Spy

The hackneyed simile of the cat and the mouse seemed to me to be
especially applicable in the present instance. In one breath I was told
that there would be many interviews of the kind I was then enjoying
(?), and in the next that my destination was Siberia. It was certainly
paradoxical and somewhat threatening, but I still refrained from asking
questions. Presently, as I made no further comment, the emperor resumed
the conversation.

"What brought you to Russia?" he demanded, but in a tone that was not
unkind.

"The desire to obtain an interview with you," I replied, remembering
his caution for me to ignore his rank.

"For what purpose?"

"To enter your service."

"In what capacity?"

"In any capacity for which I seem most fitted."

His majesty smiled broadly as if my replies suited the humor he was in.
I knew that I had made an impression that was not detrimental to me in
his eyes, and thought that I began to see through the puzzle. The
succeeding few moments convinced me that I was not mistaken.

"Whose was the suggestion that determined your visit to Russia?" he
continued.

"The suggestion came to me a long time ago--more than a year," I
responded. "Since then it has been constantly in my mind, and at last I
decided to act upon it."

"That does not answer my question, Mr. Derrington."

"The idea first came to me through an old friend; one whom I used to
know here, in this country; one who afforded me very great assistance
when I was here three years ago on a secret mission for my government."