Intro: Count Rouvaloff

[conspiringcount]

He's a youngish man, dressed well but not extravagantly, and at present looking around with no small measure of confusion. Suddenly he begins to smile, and then to laugh. "A house in the country! Wonderful."

Typist: Count Rouvaloff here appears in both Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and The Nihilists by Oscar Wilde, and since if you tilt your head and

Comments

[naturestrangled]

". . . Well. Hello."

[conspiringcount]

"So it's true. You're alive." He's staring. It is something of a shock.

[naturestrangled]

Vera smiles wryly. "Despite my own best efforts, yes. I take it that is what you were thinking."

[conspiringcount]

"I don't believe I said any such thing," he replies, "though of course the story is all over Russia by now."

[naturestrangled]

"No doubt. Something of an embarrassment for our President, I imagine." She keeps her tone cool, all too aware of the things that might be said.

[conspiringcount]

Rouvaloff looks amused. "He was certainly displeased, although nowhere near as angry as Stroganoff -- which explains the increasingly inept assassination attempts."

[naturestrangled]

"Ah, yes. About those--"

[conspiringcount]

"You wish to know if I was involved?" He patted his pockets, then retrieved a cigarette case. "Not exactly, though I didn't argue the point."

[naturestrangled]

"Why? You must have known him -- known who he was to begin with. If you trusted him then, how could you not speak in his defense?" Her tone was still level, although with considerably more effort now.

[conspiringcount]

"Yes, and after that I'd paint an enormous sign reading 'Traitor: stab at your convenience' and stick it on my back," he said dryly, lighting his cigarette.

[naturestrangled]

"I was under the impression that anyone who called themselves a Nihilist would be willing to risk their life." Dangerously quiet now.

[conspiringcount]

"Where it is useful to do so, certainly," he replied, more seriously. "But what good would it have done? They would still have killed him, and me as well. It would be pointless. It is worthwhile to die for a cause, but usually much better to live for it. And . . ."

[naturestrangled]

"And?"

[conspiringcount]

"He did break his oath."

[naturestrangled]

"Lord, not you as well! Don't tell me you of all people, living as an aristocrat while you call yourself a Republican, are so hypocritical as to call him a traitor."

Look, Rouvaloff. You've got a Vera glaring at you now. Is this really what you wanted?

[conspiringcount]

"Again, I have my reasons. My position is valuable to our organization, is it not? I have obtained information I could not have under other circumstances."