“We are satisfied, your honour!” murmured some dozens of gloomy voices; the rest remained stubbornly silent. But that was enough for the major. It was evidently to his advantage to end the scene as quickly as possible, and to end it somehow pacifically.

“Ah, now all are satisfied!” he said hurriedly. “I saw that⁠ ⁠… I knew it. It’s the work of agitators! There must be agitators among them!” he went on, addressing Dyatlov. “We must go into that more carefully. But now⁠ ⁠… now it’s time for work. Beat the drum!”