'With whom?'
'With that girl you saw here to-day. . .'
'That girl! She has a nice face. You love one another, eh? . . . Or is it simply, you have made up your minds to go away together from a house where you are both unhappy?'
'We love one another.'
'Ah!' Solomin was silent for a while. 'Is she a relation of the people here?'
'Yes. But she fully shares our convictions, and is ready to go forward.'
Solomin smiled.
'And are you ready, Nezhdanov?'
Nezhdanov frowned slightly.
'Why that question? I will prove my readiness in action.'
'I have no doubts of you, Nezhdanov. I only asked because I imagine there is no one ready besides you.'
'What of Markelov?'
'Yes, to be sure, there is Markelov; but he, I expect, was born ready.'
At that instant some one gave a light, rapid tap at the door, and, without waiting for an answer, opened it. It was Marianna. She went up at once to Solomin.
'I am sure,' she began, 'you will not be surprised at seeing me here at such an hour. . . . He' (Marianna indicated Nezhdanov) 'has
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