Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/292

Tales from Tolstoi it. I'll tell it not. Do what you like with me—yours is the power."

And bully him as the Governor might, Aksenov would say nothing. Thus they did not discover who dug out the earth.

The next day, as Aksenov lay upon his bed half-dreaming, he heard someone come along and sit down at his feet. He looked into the darkness and recognised Makar. Aksenov said, "What more dost thou want with me? What dost thou here?"

Makar Semenov was silent.

Aksenov rose up and said, "What is it? Go away, or I'll call the soldier!"

Makar Semenov bent down close over Aksenov and said in a whisper, "Ivan Dmitrievich, forgive me!"

Aksenov said, "For what am I to forgive thee?"

"I killed the merchant and I palmed off the knife upon thee. I would have killed thee too, but they made a stir in the courtyard, so I stuck the knife into thy bag and escaped out of the window."

Aksenov was silent and knew not what to say.

Makar Semenov got down from the bedstead, knelt on the ground, and said, "Ivan Dmitrievich, forgive me!—forgive me for God's sake! I will confess that I killed the merchant—they will let thee go. Thou wilt return home."

Aksenov said, Tis easy for thee to speak so, but what must I endure? Whither can I go now? My wife is dead, my children have forgotten me; I have nowhere to go. …"

Makar Semenov did not rise from the ground; he bent his head against the ground and said, "Ivan 242