and each suggested some way of preventing
the disaster--all of them sufficiently incoherent--while Matrena
Petrovna invoked the Virgin and at the same time helped Feodor
Feodorovitch adjust his sword and buckle his belt; for the general
wished to die in uniform.

Athanase Georgevitch, his eyes sticking out of his head and his body
bent as though he feared the Nihlists just below him might perceive his
tall form--through the floor, no doubt--proposed that they should throw
themselves out of the window, even at the cost of broken legs. The
saddened Councilor of Empire declared that project simply idiotic, for
as they fell they would be absolutely at the disposal of the Nihilists,
who would be attracted by the noise and would make a handful of dust of
them with a single gesture through the window. Thaddeus Tchitchnikoff,
who couldn't think of anything at all, blamed Koupriane and the rest of
the police for not having devised something. Why hadn't they already got
rid of these Nihilists? After the frightened silence they had kept at
first, now they all spoke at once, in low voices, hoarse and rapid, with
shortened breath, making wild movements of the arms and head, and walked
here and there in the chamber quite without motive, but very softly on
tiptoe, going to the windows, returning, listening at the doors, peering
through the key-holes, exchanging absurd suggestions, full of the
wildest imaginings. "If we should... if... if,"--everybody speaking and
everybody making signs for the others to be quiet. "Lower! If they hear
us, we are lost." And Koupriane, who did not come, and his police, who
themselves had brought two assassins into the house, and were not
able now to make them leave without having everybody jump! They were
certainly lost. There was nothing left but to say their prayers. They
turned to the general and Matrena Petrovna, who were wrapped in a close
embrace. Feodor had taken the poor disheveled head of the good Matrena
between his hands and pressed it upon his shoulders as he embraced her.
He said, "Rest quietly against my heart, Matrena Petrovna. Nothing can
happen to us except what God wills."

At that sight and that remark the others grew ashamed of their
confusion. The harmony of that couple embracing in the presence of death
restored them to themselves, to their courage, and their "Nitchevo."
Athanase Georgevitch, Ivan Petrovitch and Thaddeus Tchitchnikoff
repeated after Matrena Petrovna, "As God wills.