AKULÍNA. And suppose it's not. It happened once, some twenty years ago, that they accused a man of having stolen a horse. A crowd collected. One says: "I myself saw him catching it." Another says he saw him leading it. It was a big piebald horse, easily noticed. All the people began searching for it, and in the forest they found the lad. "It's you," they say. He protests and swears it was not him. They say: "What's the good of listening to him; the women said quite certainly it's him." Then he said something rude. George Lapúshkin (he's dead now) was a hot-tempered man. He dashed at him slap bang, and struck him on the mouth. "It was you," said he, and hit out at him. Then all the others fell on him and began beating him with sticks and fists till they killed him. And what do you think!.... Next day the real thief was found. The lad they killed had only gone into the forest to choose a tree to cut down. MARTHA. Yes, of course, we may be sinning against him. He has come down very low, but seemed a good fellow. AKULÍNA. Yes, he has sunk very low. One can't expect much from the likes of him. MARTHA. They're shouting. I expect they're bringing him back. Enter Michael, Neighbour, an old man and a lad, pushing the Tramp before them. MICHAEL [with the parcel in his hands, excitedly to his wife] It was found on him. [To Tramp] You thief! You dog! AKULÍNA [to Martha] It's him, poor soul. See how he hangs his head. MARTHA. It seems it was himself he spoke about yesterday that grabs anything that's handy when he's had some drink. TRAMP. I'm not a thief; I'm an expropriator. I am a worker and must live. You can't understand it. Do what you like with me. NEIGHBOUR. Take him to the village Elder or straight to the police! TRAMP. I tell you, do whatever you like. I am not afraid, and am ready to suffer for my convictions. If you were educated you would understand. MARTHA [to her husband] Suppose we let him go, in God's name. We've got the parcel back. Let him go and let's not commit another sin. MICHAEL [repeating] "Another sin!" Taken to teaching? One wouldn't know what to do without you, eh? MARTHA. Why not let him go? MICHAEL. "Let him go!" One knows what to do without you, you fool. "Let him go!" Go he may, but he must hear a word or two so that he should feel. [To Tramp] Well then, listen, you sir, to what I have to say to you. Though you are in a very low state, still you have done very wrong--very wrong. Another man would have caved your ribs in, and have taken you to the police; but I will only say this. You've done wrong, as wrong as may be; only you are in a very bad way and I don't want to hurt you. [Pauses. Everyone is silent. Then he continues solemnly] Go, and God be with you, and do not do it again. [Looks at his wife] And you want to teach me! NEIGHBOUR. You shouldn't, Michael; oh, you should not. You're encouraging that sort of thing.