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If they, or Nikolay alone, had murdered them and broken open the

boxes, or simply taken part in the robbery, allow me to ask you

one question: do their state of mind, their squeals and giggles

and childish scuffling at the gate fit in with axes, bloodshed,

fiendish cunning, robbery? They'd just killed them, not five or

ten minutes before, for the bodies were still warm, and at once,

leaving the flat open, knowing that people would go there at

once, flinging away their booty, they rolled about like children,

laughing and attracting general attention. And there are a dozen

witnesses to swear to that!"

"Of course it is strange! It's impossible, indeed, but..."