“Yes.”
“You know that it is not right to betray one’s country!”
“No... it is not right...” answered Michael, who wished to remain unmoved.
“Little father,” continued Nicholas, “it seems to me that you are not half indignant enough when Ivan Ogareff is spoken of. Your Russian heart ought to leap when his name is uttered.”
“Believe me, my friend, I hate him more than you can ever hate him,” said Michael.
“It is not possible,” replied Nicholas; “no, it is not possible! When I think of Ivan Ogareff, of the harm which he is doing to our sacred Russia, I get into such a rage that if I could get hold of him—”
“If you could get hold of him, friend?”
“I think I should kill him.”
“And I, I am sure of it,” returned Michael quietly.