Suddenly an idea occurred to me.
'Filofey!'
'What is it?'
'Are you married?'
'Yes.'
'And have you children?'
'Yes.'
'How was it you didn't think of them? You were sorry for your horses: weren't you sorry for your wife and children?'
'Why be sorry for them? They weren't going to fall into the hands of thieves, you know. But I kept them in my mind all the while, and I do now... surely.' Filofey paused.... 'May be... it was for their sake Almighty God had mercy on us.'
'But if they weren't highwaymen?'