The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1489: Chapter 243: Big News in Moscow

Since his arrest, Herzen was initially detained at the Pulechisin Police Station in Moscow. Although sleeping in the office couldn’t be considered a particularly comfortable arrangement, it was at least more pleasant than being held at the Moscow Police Headquarters and the Interrogation Committee located on Tver Alley.

At the Pulechisin Police Station, Herzen was not permitted to read the books he desired, and the Police Chief repeatedly emphasized to Herzen that sending books from home was not allowed.

However, due to Herzen’s family background, the Police Chief didn’t dare to be too harsh on this young man.

He knew clearly that if he dared to humiliate Herzen as he would a small shopkeeper or farmer, it would undoubtedly provoke a swift retaliation from the young man.

For an official of the Eighth Rank like the Police Chief, even political prisoners who have fallen into disgrace are not to be easily messed with.

As for why this is?

Look at Mikhail Mikhailovich Speransky, mate!

In 1812, Speransky was exiled by the late Emperor Alexander I after his failure in implementing reforms and consequent backlash from the opposition.

At the time, the streets of Russia were abuzz with talk that Speransky was loyal to France’s policies and idolized Napoleon. It was said that his reason for emulating the French was to destabilize the very foundation of the country, that he was Napoleon’s spy placed in Russia, intending to control Russia through controlling the Tsar, and so on.

Thus, when news of Speransky’s exile was first announced, there was much jubilation in St. Petersburg and Moscow. The nobility and landlords held grand banquets to celebrate Speransky’s exile. Some even thought that exile was too lenient a punishment and that the Emperor should have beheaded this French spy.

No matter the perspective, any reasonable person would believe that Speransky’s life was ruined.

But if you truly treat this Russian reformer with the attitude reserved for a prisoner, you will certainly regret it.

Because four years later, Speransky was reinstated by the Tsar as the Governor of Western Siberia.

Five years later, he was summoned from exile by the imperial edict to return to the capital and was re-elected to the State Council.

In 1826, with the accession of the new Emperor, Speransky was immediately appointed by Tsar Nicholas I as the head of the second Tsar’s Imperial Office.

Clever people knew that in Russia, there’s no such thing as a fallen phoenix being beneath a chicken.

A phoenix remains a phoenix, and chickens cannot arbitrarily issue orders to them.

There is no benefit in offending them recklessly, and it may even lead to retaliation in the future.

Therefore, although according to the regulations, they could not allow Herzen to send servants to bring books from home, the Police Chief could adopt Arthur’s suggestion—outright rejection of the prisoner’s requests could damage the harmonious relationship between the parties, which could lead to the failure of the interrogation. When dealing with young people, playing the role of a caring father or brother makes it easier to open their hearts. If they make requests that cannot be fulfilled, the Interrogation Officer should refuse but also provide them with some insignificant perks as consolation.

Thus, although Herzen did not get the books he wanted, the Police Chief made an exception by allowing Herzen to read science or grammar books, but he appropriately reminded Herzen: ”If you want to read other books, you’ll have to consult the director (Moscow Police Chief Zienski).”

Although flipping through a dictionary for entertainment sounds pretty silly, having a dictionary to read is better than sitting around doing nothing all day.

Herzen spent two ten-ruble notes to get an Italian grammar book.

When he asked the Police Chief where the remaining money for the book went, the fellow shamelessly replied: ”You must understand, we are taking risks too.”

Aside from the matter of the books, the overall life at Pulechisin Police Station was tolerable.

They allowed Herzen to not eat the meals provided by the station and instead have food sent from home.

Of course, the premise was that the daily meal fee of two rubles had to be paid as usual.

Every day, the servant from Herzen’s house would hand the meals to an officer on duty outside, who would then dispatch a soldier to deliver it to Herzen.

In addition to food, half to a full bottle of wine was allowed to be sent daily.

And seizing this opportunity, his worried parents, anxious about their son’s arrest, directly sent Herzen a bottle of 1816 Johannesburg.

Each time, the cook and others responsible for preparing the meals would fill the basket to the brim, all afraid that he might never have the chance to eat and drink well again in this lifetime.

However, these good times took a sharp turn for the worse two days ago when Herzen was transferred to the Interrogation Committee.

At the Interrogation Committee, the only gesture of kindness Herzen felt was upon his first entry, when a plump police officer with a briefcase, bearing a sincere appearance, greeted him.

”I assume you’re here because of the recent arrest of Ogarev and the other young individuals, correct?”

”I overheard it by chance,” the plump officer continued. ”This case is strange; I don’t understand it at all.”

”I was in prison for two weeks because of this case, and I not only understood nothing, but I also knew absolutely nothing.”

”That’s the best,” the plump officer solemnly glanced at Herzen. ”You’d better know nothing. With all due respect, this is my advice to you; you’re young, hot-blooded, eager to talk, and that’s the worst. Don’t forget, knowing nothing is the only way to save yourself.”