“A flower garden, eh?”
Trirodov looked severely at the Commissary, who became flustered and rather angry. He said:
“I have come to you, I’m sorry to say, on unpleasant business.”
Indeed, he came under the pretext of discussing the arrangements of Egorka’s position. Incidentally, he hinted that the illegal opening of Egorka’s grave might give cause to an official investigation. Trirodov gave the Commissary a bribe and treated him to lunch. The Commissary of the police left in high spirits.
At last Trirodov had a visit from the Captain of the police. He had a gloomy, inaccessible look. He began quite bluntly about the illegal digging up of Egorka’s grave. Trirodov said:
“Surely it was impossible to leave a live boy to suffocate in a grave.”
The Captain replied in a rather austere voice:
“You should have notified the Prior of the cemetery church of your suspicions. He would have done all there was to be done.”
“But think how much time would have been lost in going after the priest,” said Trirodov.
The Captain, without listening, replied: