AUTHOR'S NOTE.

It is very difficult to write a preface for this book, which is no longer a view of the actuality but has by the march of events become already a sort of historical novel, dealing with the past.

But this reflection bears entirely upon the events, and as an attempt to render not so much the political state of the psychology of Russia itself, I venture to hope that it has not lost all its interest. I am encouraged in this flattering belief by noticing that now in many articles on Russian affairs of the present day reference is made to certain sayings and opinions uttered in the pages that follow, in a manner testifying to the correctness of my vision and my judgment. I need not say that in writing this novel I had no other object in view than to express imaginatively the general truth which underlies this action and my honest convictions as to the moral complexion of the facts more or less known to the whole world.

As to the actual creation, when I began first to write I had a distinct vision of the first part only, with the four figures of Haldin, Razumov and Councillor Mikulin, exactly defined in my thoughts.

It was only after I had finished the first part that the whole story revealed itself to me in its tragic character and in the march of events as something unavoidable and sufficiently expressive in its out-