Aksénof asked:
“What do you wish of me? What are you doing here?”
Makár remained silent. Aksénof arose, and said:
“What do you want? Go away, or else I will call the guard.”
Makár went up close to Aksénof, and said in a whisper:
“Iván Dmítritch,[8] forgive me!”
Aksénof said: “What have I to forgive you?”
“It was I who killed the merchant and put the knife in your bag. And I was going to kill you too, but there was a noise in the yard; I thrust the knife in your bag, and slipped out of the window.”
Aksénof said nothing, and he did not know what to say. Makár got down from the bunk, knelt on the ground, and said:
“Iván Dmítritch, forgive me, forgive me for Christ’s sake. I will confess that I killed the merchant—they will pardon you. You will be able to go home.” Aksénof said: