You want to stay here?
Haldin
Only for a short time. No great risk in that as no one has seen me come. Go and see Ziemianitch for me.
Razumov
What am I to tell him?
Haldin
Tell him, “Kolya will meet you half an hour after midnight, at the seventh lamppost counting from the upper end of Kesabelnaya Street.”
Razumov
Are you certain you were seen by no one when you came here?
Haldin
I’m as sure as I can be. I waited for two hours before coming up.
Razumov
Still, you’re a noticeable person— Yes—of course, I will go. You must give me precise instructions, and for the rest—depend on me.
Haldin (embracing him)
I knew I could count on you. You’re collected, cool, a regular Englishman. There aren’t many like you. Look here, brother: Men like me leave no posterity—but their souls are not lost. No man’s soul is ever lost. It works for itself, or else where would be the sense of self sacrifice, of martyrdom? Don’t misunderstand, Razumov. What I did today was not murder—it was war. My spirit shall go on warring in some Russian body until all falsehood is swept out of the world. (Razumov remains silent throughout this harangue) Ha, you say nothing—you are a skeptic! I respect your philosophical skepticism—but I don’t touch the soul. The Russian soul has a mission, I tell you—or else why should I have done this like a butcher—I, I—who wouldn’t hurt a fly.
Razumov
Not so loud!
(Haldin bursts into tears.)
Razumov
Try to control yourself.
Haldin
Yes, men like me have no posterity. I have a sister, though. Not a bad little girl, my sister. She will marry soon, I hope. Look at me: my father was a government official.— A true Russian in his way. But, I am not like him. More like my grandfather—a Decembrist. They shot him in Twenty-Eight. This is war, but God of Justice! It’s weary work.
Razumov
You believe in God, Haldin?
Haldin
What does it matter? When your day comes, you don’t forget what’s divine in our Russian soul. Respect it! I am speaking to you now like a man with a rope around his neck. Don’t spoil its message to the world!— I am one of the doomed. When the necessity of this heavy work came to me, and I understood it really had to be done—I said “God’s will be done.” That’s all.
(Haldin stretches out silently on Razumov’s bed.)
Razumov (after a pause)
Heldin?
Haldin
Yes?
Razumov
Hadn’t I better start?
Haldin
Yes, brother. The time has come to put your faith to the test.
Razumov (displaying a key)
I am going to lock you in.
Haldin
Go with God.
BLACKOUT
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