bout to break out--"

"That was precisely why we asked you to come," Mariana interrupted him;
"we wanted to find out exactly how matters stood."

"If that's your reason for going," Solomin continued, "I repeat once
more, you can stay at home for some time to come yet, but if you want
to run away because you love each other and can't be united otherwise,
then--"

"Well? What then?"

"Then I must first congratulate you and, if need be, give you all the
help in my power. I may say, my dear lady, that I took a liking to you
both at first sight and love you as brother and sister."

Mariana and Nejdanov both went up to him on the right and left and each
clasped a hand.

"Only tell us what to do," Mariana implored. "Supposing the revolution
is still far off, there must be preparatory work to be done, a thing
impossible in this house, in the midst of these surroundings. We should
so gladly go together... Show us what we can do; tell us where to go...
Send us anywhere you like! You will send us, won't you?"

"Where to?

"To the people.... Where can one go if not among the people?"

"Into the forest," Nejdanov thought, calling to mind Paklin's words.

Solomin looked intently at Mariana.

"Do you want to know the people?"

"Yes; that is, we not only want to get to know them, but we want to
work... to toil for them."

"Very well. I promise you that you shall get to know them. I will give
you the opportunity of doing as you wish. And you, Nejdanov, are you
ready to go for her... and for them?"

"Of course I am," he said hastily. "Juggernaut," another word of
Paklin's, flashed across his mind. "Here it comes thundering along, the
huge chariot... I can hear the crash and rumble of its wheels."

"Very well," Solomin repeated pensively. "But when do you want to go
away?"

"Tomorrow, if possible," Mariana observed.

"Very good. But where?"

"Sh, sh--" Nejdanov whispered. "Someone is walking along the corridor."

They were all silent for a time.

"But where do you want to go to?" Solomin asked again, lowering his
voice.

"We don't know," Mariana replied.

Solomin glanced at Nejdanov, but the latter merely shook his head.

Solomin stretched out his hand and carefully snuffed the candle.

"I tell you what, my children," he said at last, "come to me at the
factory. It's not beautiful there, but safe, at any rate. I will hide
you. I have a little spare room there. Nobody will find you. If only you
get there, we