"A man must perforce be cruel," said Nikolay dismally.
The mother nodded her head in confirmation. She recalled the sayings of the Little Russian.
CHAPTER VI
Once Nikolay, usually so punctual, came from his work much later than was his wont, and said, excitedly rubbing his hands: "Do you know, Nilovna, to-day at the visiting hour one of our comrades disappeared from prison? But we have not succeeded in finding out who."
The mother's body swayed, overpowered by excitement. She sat down on a chair and asked with forced quiet:
"Maybe it's Pasha?"
"Possibly. But the question is how to find him, how to help him keep in concealment. Just now I was walking about the streets to see if I couldn't detect him. It was a stupid thing of me to do, but I had to do something. I'm going out again."
"I'll go, too," said the mother, rising.