The heavy breathing of the perspiring gendarmes was audible; the spurs clanked, and sometimes the low question was heard: "Did you look here ?" The mother stood by Pavel's side against the wall.

She folded her arms over her bosom, like her son, and both regarded the officer.

The mother felt her knees trembling, and her eyes became covered with a dry mist.
Suddenly the piercing voice of Nikolay cut into the silence: "Why is it necessary to throw the books on the floor ?" The mother trembled.

Tveryakov rocked his head as if he had been struck on the back.

Rybin uttered a peculiar cluck, and regarded Nikolay attentively.
The officer threw up his head, screwed up his eyes, and fixed them for a second upon the pockmarked, mottled, immobile face.