Holding her by the hand, as though fearing that some one would take her away from him, he said quickly, in a business-like manner, to Tanya
"Ah, young lady, you can go alone! You are a pure soul—you can go alone wherever you please! But I—I can't! A murderer! . . . Understand? I can't go alone! Where are you going, you murderer? they will ask me. Why, I even stole horses, by God! But with her it is just as if—just as if I were with an infant, understand? Do you understand me?"
"I do. Go. Come, let me kiss you once more, Musechka."
"Kiss! Kiss each other!" urged Tsiganok. "That's a woman's job! You must bid each other a hearty good-by!"
Musya and Tsiganok moved forward. Musya walked cautiously, slipping, and by force of habit raising her skirts slightly. And the man led her to death firmly, holding her arm carefully and feeling the ground with his foot.
The lights stopped moving. It was quiet.
