"You see, Nilovna, it'll be hard for you to hear; but I'll say it, anyway—I know Pavel well; he won't leave prison. He wants to be tried; he wants to rise in all his height. He won't give up a trial, and he needn't either. He will escape from Siberia."
The mother sighed and answered softly:
"Well, he knows what's best for the cause."
Nikolay quickly jumped to his feet, suddenly seized with joy again.
"Thank you, Nilovna! I've just lived through a magnificent moment—maybe the best moment of my life. Thank you! Now, come, let's give each other a good, strong kiss!"
They embraced, looking into each other's eyes. And they gave each other firm, comradely kisses.
"That's good!" he said softly.
The mother unclasped her hands from about his neck and laughed quietly and happily.
"Um!" said Nikolay the next minute. "If your peasant there would hurry up and come here! You see, we must be sure to write a leaflet about Rybin for the village. It won't hurt him once he's come out so boldly, and it will help the cause. I'll surely do it to-day. Liudmila will print it quickly. But then arises the question—how will it get to the village?"
"I'll take it!"