gentlemen will only grease the inquiry with
gold it will come out all right. But now I will repeat to you what I have
already said to that gentleman with the long sword, that Plut is the first
in command, I the second; Plut is still alive, and he may play you a trick
that will be your ruin, for he is a cunning specimen--you need to stuff his
mouth with bank notes. Well, my friend, you with the long sword, have you
called on Plut already? Have you had a talk with him?"

Gerwazy looked around and stroked his bald pate; he made a careless motion
of his hand as if to signify that he had already arranged the whole
matter. But Rykov persisted:--

"Well, will Plut keep quiet? Has he given his word to do so?"

The Warden, vexed that Rykov should torment him with questions, solemnly
bent down his thumb to the ground, and then, with a wave of the hand, as
if to cut short further discourse, he said:--

"I swear by my penknife that Plut will not betray us! He will talk no more
with any one!"

Then he let his hands fall and cracked his fingers, as if he were shaking
the whole mystery out of his hands.

This dark gesture the hearers understood; they began to gaze in amazement
at one another, each trying to guess his neighbour's thoughts, and the
gloomy silence lasted for several minutes. At last Rykov said:--

"The wolf was a robber, and robbers have caught him!"

"_Requiescat in pace_," added the Chamberlain.

"In this was the finger of God!" said the Judge. "But I am not guilty of
this blood; I did not know of this."

The Monk rose on the pillows and sat up with gloomy mien. At last he said,
looking sharply at the Warden:--

"It is a great sin to slay an unarmed captive! Christ forbids us to take
vengeance even on our enemies! Ah! Warden, you will answer heavily for
this to God. There is but one ground of pardon--if the deed was done not
from stupid vengeance but _pro publico bono_."

The Warden made a motion with his head and with his outstretched hand,
and, blinking, repeated, "_Pro publico bono_."

There was no more talk of Major Plut. Next day they sought vainly for him
in the yard, and vainly offered a reward for his body: the Major had
perished without leaving a trace behind, as though he had fallen into the
water; as to what had become of him there were various rumours, but no one
knew with certainty, either then or later. In vain they tormented the
Warden with questions; he said nothing but these words, "_Pro