They all stood despondent and silent. The tall youth moved his lips and swayed from side to side.

“We should ask him⁠ ⁠… that’s he himself?”⁠ ⁠… “Yes, ask him indeed!⁠ ⁠… Why not? He’ll explain”⁠ ⁠… voices in the rear of the crowd were suddenly heard saying, and the general attention turned to the police superintendent’s trap which drove into the square attended by two mounted dragoons.

The superintendent of police, who had gone that morning by Count Rostopchín’s orders to burn the barges and had in connection with that matter acquired a large sum of money which was at that moment in his pocket, on seeing a crowd bearing down upon him told his coachman to stop.

“What people are these?” he shouted to the men, who were moving singly and timidly in the direction of his trap.

“What people are these?” he shouted again, receiving no answer.