There's that
peasant! See! You can put him even before God, not to speak of
before a police commissioner. He won't yield. He stands for his own
firmly--up to his knees in it. And Nikita, why his honor was suddenly
pricked--a marvel? No. If the people will set out in a friendly
way to do something together, they'll draw everybody after them."
"Friendly! They beat a man in front of your eyes, and you stand
with your mouths wide open."
"You just wait a little while. He ought to thank God we didn't beat
him ourselves, that man. Yes, indeed. Sometimes the authorities
compel you to beat, and you do beat. Maybe you weep inside yourself
with pity, but still you beat. People don't dare to decline from
beastliness--they'll be killed themselves for it. They command you,
'Be what I want you to be--a wolf, a pig'--but to be a man is
prohibited. And a bold man they'll get rid of--send to the next
world. No. You must contrive for many to get bold at once, and
for all to arise suddenly."
He whispered for a long time, now lowering his voice so that the
mother scarcely could hear, and now bursting forth powerfully.
Then the woman would stop him. "S-sh, you'll wake her.
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