were usually lenient where women and children were concerned. Thousands were allowed to flee; only the most fanatic wanted that blood on their hands. But I don't believe the Voroshins were allowed to. Actually, I'm quite sure of it but I don't know specifically." "I need specific knowledge." "I understand that, and in my judgment you have,it. At least enough to refute any theory involving Voroshin and this incredible Matarese society." "Why do you say thatr "Because had the prince escaped, it would not have been to his advantage to keep silent. The Whites in exile were organizing everywhere. Those with legitimate titles were welcomed with open arms and excessive remuneration by the great companies and the international banks; it was good busineSL It Was not in Voroshin's nature to reject such largess and notoriety. No, Vasili. He was killed." Taleniekov listened to the scholaes words, looking for an inconsistency. He got up from the chair and went to the pot of tea; he filled his cup and stared absently at the brown liquid. "Unless he was offered something of greater value to keep silent, to remain anonymous." "This Matarese?" asked Mikovsky.
"Yes. Money had been made available. In Rome and in Genoa. It was their initial funding." "But it was earmarked for just that, wasn't itr Mikovsky leaned forward.
"From what you've told me, it was to be used for the hiring of assassins, spreading the gospel of vengeance according to this Guillaume de Matarese, is that not so?" "Ibat's what the old woman implied," agreed Taleniekov.
"Then it was not to be spent recouping individual fortunes or financing new ones. You see, that's what I can't accept where Voroshin is concerned. If he had escaped he would not have turned his back on the opportunities offered him. Not to join an organization bent on political vengeance; he was far too pragmatic a man." Vasili had started back to his chair; he stopped and turned, the cup suspended, motionless in his hand. "What did you just say?" "That Voroshin was too pragmatic to reject--' "No," interrupted Taleniekov. "Before that. The money was not to be used recouping fortunes or?..." "Financing new ones. You see, Vasili, large sums of capital were made available to the exiles." Taleniekov held up his hand. "'Financing new ones,'" he repeated. "There are many ways to spread a gospel. Beggars and lunatics do it in the streets, priests from pulpits, politicians from rostrums. But how can you spread a gospel that cannot stand scrutiny? How do you pay for it?" Vasili put the cup down on the small table next to his chair. "You do both anonymously, using the complicated methods and procedures of an existing structure. One in which whole areas operate as separate entities, distinct from one another yet held together by a common iden- tity. Where enormous sums of capital are transferred daily." Taleniekov walked back to the desk and leaned over, his hands on the edge. "You make the necessary pur. chase! You buy the seat of decisionl The structure is yours for the usingl" "If I follow you," the scholar said, "the money left by Matarese was to be divided, and used to buy participation in giant, established enterprises." "Exactly. I'm looking in the wrong place-sorry, the right place, but the wrong country. Voroshin did escape. He got out of Russia probably a long time before he had to because the Romanovs crippled him, stripped him, watched his every financial move. He was hamstrung here... and later the sort of investments Guillaume de Matarese envisioned were prohibited in the Soviet. Don't you see, he had no reason to stay in Russia. His decision was made long before the revolution; it's why you never heard of him in exile. He became someone else." "You're wrong, Vasili. His name was among those sentenced to death. I remember seeing it myself." "But you're not sure you saw it later, in the announcements of those actually executed." "There were so many.of "That's my point." "There were his communications with the Kerenski pro. visional government, they're a matter of record." "Easily dispatched and recorded." Taleniekov pushed himself away from the desk, his every instinct telling him he was near the truth. "What better way for a man like Voroshin to lose his identity but in the chaos of a revolution? The mobs out of control; the discipline did not come for weeks, and it was a miracle it came then. Absolute chaos. How easily it could be done."