“Do not deceive me! Reveal to me wherein your faith lies,” said the old man, without rising or lifting his head.

“I have told you wherein our faith lies. But get up, or else I won’t talk.”

The old man rose.

“And did that youth hold the same faith?” he said, standing before Mezhenétsky and glancing at him now and then with his kind eyes, and immediately dropping them again.

“Yes, it was⁠ ⁠… just that. That is why they hanged him. And me, you see, they are taking to the Petropávlof Fortress for the same faith.”