“‘No, do not tell him,’ she urged earnestly. ‘For the present let us remain as we are. If your father knew he would separate us. He would send me to another serf-owner, as he did Anna Ivanovna, Marya Zadlewski, and the others.’
“‘Fear not, little one,’ I replied reassuringly. ‘He dare not send you away now you are my wife.’
“‘Could you not take me to Petersburg or Moscow, where we could live together unknown?’ she suggested. ‘You have enough money to do that, haven’t you?’
“‘Yes, dearest. But unfortunately you are still a serf. If you left the estate he could have you arrested. He even has the right by law to exile you to Siberia for desertion. This latter course he would certainly adopt if he knew we were wedded.’
“‘Ah! You are right,’ she replied sorrowfully. ‘I never thought of that.’
“At that moment we were startled at hearing the cracking of dried twigs, apparently broken by footsteps. Holding our breath we listened.
“‘A wolf perhaps!’ exclaimed Natiónka in alarm.
“I drew my revolver and waited.
“‘No!’ I exclaimed aloud, as I caught a glimpse of a figure moving stealthily among the trunks of the trees. ‘Not a wolf, but a more dangerous animal, Artem Makaroff, my father’s agent!’