“It’s a very awkward business,” he began; “I don’t think it would do Nejdanov any harm to go into hiding for a time. But, by the way, how did you get to know that he was here, Mr. Paklin?”
Paklin gave a wave of the hand.
“A certain individual told me. He had seen him preaching about the neighbourhood and had followed him, though with no evil intent. He is a sympathiser. Excuse me,” he added, turning to Mariana, “is it true that our friend Nejdanov has been very ... very careless?”
“It’s no good blaming him now,” Solomin began again. “What a pity we can’t talk things over with him now, but by tomorrow he will be all right again. The police don’t do things as quickly as you seem to imagine. You will have to go away with him, Mariana Vikentievna.”
“Certainly,” she said resolutely, a lump rising in her throat.
“Yes,” Solomin said, “we must think it over, consider ways and means.”
“May I make a suggestion?” Paklin began. “It entered my head as I was coming along here. I must tell you, by the way, that I dismissed the cabman from the town a mile away from here.”
“What is your suggestion?” Solomin asked.
“Let me have some horses at once and I’ll gallop off to the Sipiagins.”
“To the Sipiagins!” Mariana exclaimed. “Why?”