On the following night, as Aksénov lay down on the bed-boards and was just falling asleep, he heard somebody come up to him and sit down at his feet. He looked in the darkness and recognized Makár. Aksénov said:
"What more do you want of me? What are you doing here?"
Makár Seménovich was silent. Aksénov raised himself, and said:
"What do you want? Go away, or I will call the soldier."
Makár bent down close to Aksénov, and said to him in a whisper:
"Iván Dmítrievich, forgive me!"
Aksénov said:
"For what shall I forgive you?"