He's a spy, an informer,
and tortures the life out of everybody. They gave him a drubbing,
there was a hubbub, the overseers got frightened and blew their
whistles. I noticed the gates open. I walked up and saw an open
square and the city. It drew me forward and I went away without
haste, as if in sleep. I walked a little and bethought myself:
'Where am I to go?' I looked around and the gates of the prison
were already closed. I began to feel awkward. I was sorry for
the comrades in general. It was stupid somehow. I hadn't thought
of going away."
"Hm!" said Yegor. "Why, sir, you should have turned back, respectfully
knocked at the prison door, and begged for admission. 'Excuse me,'
you should have said, 'I was tempted; but here I am.'"
"Yes," continued Nikolay, smiling; "that would have been stupid, too,
I understand. But for all that, it's not nice to the other comrades.
I walk away without saying anything to anybody. Well, I kept on
going, and I came across a child's funeral. I followed the hearse
with my head bent down, looking at nobody. I sat down in the cemetery
and enjoyed the fresh air. One thought came into my head----"
"One?" asked Yegor.
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