“Well, why do you cry out? You want me to go to Siberia and now you are frightened? But let me tell you: I shall not give myself up. I shall make a struggle for it and they won’t do anything to me. They’ve no real evidence. Yesterday I was in great danger and believed I was lost; but today things are going better. All the facts they know can be explained two ways, that’s to say I can turn their accusations to my credit, do you understand? And I shall, for I’ve learnt my lesson. But they will certainly arrest me. If it had not been for something that happened, they would have done so today for certain; perhaps even now they will arrest me today.⁠ ⁠… But that’s no matter, Sonia; they’ll let me out again⁠ ⁠… for there isn’t any real proof against me, and there won’t be, I give you my word for it. And they can’t convict a man on what they have against me. Enough.⁠ ⁠… I only tell you that you may know.⁠ ⁠… I will try to manage somehow to put it to my mother and sister so that they won’t be frightened.⁠ ⁠… My sister’s future is secure, however, now, I believe⁠ ⁠… and my mother’s must be too.⁠ ⁠… Well, that’s all. Be careful, though. Will you come and see me in prison when I am there?”

“Oh, I will, I will.”