No revolutionist can adhere closely to an individual--walk through
life side by side with another individual--without distorting his
faith; and we must never forget that our aim is not little
conquests, but only complete victory!"
His voice became firm, his face paled, and his eyes kindled with the
force that characterized him. The bell sounded again. It was
Liudmila. She wore an overcoat too light for the season, her cheeks
were purple with the cold. Removing her torn overshoes, she said in
a vexed voice:
"The date of the trial is appointed--in a week!"
"Really?" shouted Nikolay from the room.
The mother quickly walked up to him, not understanding whether
fright or joy agitated her. Liudmila, keeping step with her, said,
with irony in her low voice:
"Yes, really! The assistant prosecuting attorney, Shostak, just
now brought the incriminating acts. In the court they say, quite
openly, that the sentence has already been fixed. What does it
mean? Do the authorities fear that the judges will deal too
mercifully with the enemies of the government? Having so long and
so assiduously kept corrupting their servants, is the government
still unassured of their readiness to be scoundrels?"
Liudmila sat on the sofa, rubbing her lean cheeks with her palms;
her dull eyes burned contemptuous scorn, and her voice filled with
growing wrath.
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