"For what sins?"
Aksénov said, "No doubt, I deserved it," and did not wish to tell him any more; but the other prison people told the new man how Aksénov had come to be in Siberia. They told him how on the road some one had killed a merchant and had put the knife into his bag, and he thus was sentenced though he was innocent.
When Makár Seménovich heard that, he looked at Aksénov, clapped his knees with his hands, and said:
"What a marvel! What a marvel! But you have grown old, grandfather!"
He was asked what he was marvelling at, and where he had seen Aksénov, but Makár Seménovich made no reply, and only said:
"It is wonderful, boys, where we were fated to meet!"
And these words made Aksénov think that this man might know something about who had killed the merchant. He said:
"Seménovich, have you heard before this about that matter, or have we met before?"
"Of course I have heard. The earth is full of rumours. That happened a long time ago: I have forgotten what I heard," said Makár Seménovich.