"Nothing? Who gave you fifty-five kopecks for your work, eh?"
And seeing from the boys' momentary confusion that they were guilty, Minchukov said to Vershina:
"It's obvious that they did it."
The boys renewed their denials. They were taken into a small room and whipped. Not being able to endure the pain, they confessed. But even then they were unwilling to say who had given them the money.
"We did it on our own," they said.
They were whipped again until they confessed that Cherepnin had given them the money. The boys were then turned over to their father.
"Well, we've punished them—that is their father punished them," said the Commissioner to Vershina, "and now you know who's responsible."
"I won't let that Cherepnin off easily," said Vershina. "I'll prosecute him."
"I shouldn't advise you to, Natalya Afanasyevna," said Minchukov abruptly. "You'd better let the thing drop."
"What! Let such wretches go! No, never!" exclaimed Vershina.