“So that’s how it is! You’ve betrayed our men to the police! And you have the face to confess it!”
Dmitry Matov grew green with fear. He shouted to his companion:
“Kill him! He has been listening to us! Shoot quick! He mustn’t live. He will give us both up!”
At this moment two other men appeared from the same place. Lunitsin aimed his revolver straight at Matov’s forehead, and asked:
“Who ought to be killed, traitor?”
Matov then understood that he had been caught in a trap. But he still made efforts to wriggle out of it, and called all his skill and his insolence to his assistance. They tried him for treachery. At first he defended himself. He said that he had deceived the police, and that he had entered into relations with them merely to get important information for his comrades. But his protestations soon grew weaker. Then he began to beg for mercy. He spoke of his wife and of his children.
Matov’s entreaties failed to impress any one. His judges were adamant. His fate was decided. The sentence of hanging was passed unanimously.
Matov was bound. The noose was already thrown about his neck. Then Trirodov intervened:
“What are you going to do with him? It will be difficult to take him away, and it is dangerous to leave him here.”
“Who will come here?” said Lunitsin. “At best only by chance. Let him hang here until he’s found.”