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"What's done can't be undone, and you know I never go back on

what I've done. And besides, I'm very well off."

"Very well off-for the time. But you're not satisfied with that.

I wouldn't say this to your brother. He's a nice child, like our

host here. There he goes!" he added, listening to the roar of

"hurrah!"-"and he's happy, but that does not satisfy you."

"I didn't say it did satisfy me."

"Yes, but that's not the only thing. Such men as you are wanted."

"By whom?"

"By whom? By society, by Russia. Russia needs men; she needs a

party, or else everything goes and will go to the dogs."

"How do you mean? Bertenev's party against the Russian

communists?"

"No," said Serpuhovskoy, frowning with vexation at being

suspected of such an absurdity. "Tout ca est une blague. That's

always been and always will be. There are no communists. But

intriguing people have to invent a noxious, dangerous party. It's

an old trick. No, what's wanted is a powerful party of

independent men like you and me."