won't give you up. You might think that there are far too
many people about, but that's one of its good points. Where there is a
crowd it's easy to hide. Will you come? Will you?"

"How can we thank you enough!" Nejdanov exclaimed, whilst Mariana, who
was at first a little taken aback by the idea of the factory, added
quickly:

"Of course, of course! How good of you! But you won't leave us there
long, will you? You will send us on, won't you?"

"That will depend entirely on yourselves... If you should want to get
married that could also be arranged at the factory. I have a neighbour
there close by--a cousin of mine, a priest, and very friendly. He would
marry you with the greatest of pleasure."

Mariana smiled to herself, while Nejdanov again pressed Solomin's hand.

"But I say, won't your employer, the owner of the factory, be annoyed
about it. Won't he make it unpleasant for you?" he asked after a pause.

Solomin looked askance at Nejdanov.

"Oh, don't bother about me! It's quite unnecessary. So long as things at
the factory go on all right it's all the same to my employer. You need
neither of you fear the least unpleasantness. And you need not be afraid
of the workpeople either. Only let me know what time to expect you."

Nejdanov and Mariana exchanged glances.

"The day after tomorrow, early in the morning, or the day after that. We
can't wait any longer. As likely as not they'll tell me to go tomorrow."

"Well then," Solomin said, rising from his chair. "I'll wait for you
every morning. I won't leave the place for the rest of the week. Every
precaution will be taken."

Mariana drew near to him (she was on her way to the door). "Goodbye, my
dear kind Vassily Fedotitch... that is your name, isn't it?"

"That's right."

"Goodbye till we meet again. And thank you so much!"

"Goodbye, good night!"

"Goodbye, Nejdanov; till tomorrow," she added, and went out quickly.

The young men remained for some time motionless, and both were silent.

"Nejdanov..." Solomin began at last, and stopped. "Nejdanov..." he began
a second time, "tell me about this girl... tell me everything you can.
What has her life been until now? Who is she? Why is she here?"

Nejdanov told Solomin briefly what he knew about her. "Nejdanov,"
he said at last, "you must take great care of her, because... if...
anything... were to happen, you would be very much to blame. Goodbye."

He went out, while Nejdanov stood still for a time in