He suddenly shuddered.
“Ah! here it comes.... Take ... each other’s ... hands ... before me ... quickly ... take....”
Solomin seized Mariana’s hand. Her head lay on the couch, face downwards, close to the wound. Solomin, dark as night, held himself severely erect.
“That’s right ... that’s....”
Nejdanov broke out into sobs again—strange unusual sobs.... His breast rose, his sides heaved....
He tried to lay his hand on their united ones, but it fell back dead.
“He is passing away,” Tatiana whispered as she stood at the door, and began crossing herself.
His sobs grew briefer, fewer.... He still searched around for Mariana with his eyes, but a menacing white film was spreading over them....
“That’s right,” were his last words.
He had breathed his last ... and the clasped hands of Mariana and Solomin still lay upon his breast.