And they kissed silently and passionately: Sergey kissed the silvery white hair, and the old man kissed the prisoner's garb.
"And I ?" suddenly said a loud voice.
They looked around.

Sergey's mother was standing, her head thrown back, looking at them angrily, almost with contempt.
"What is it, mother ?" cried the colonel.
"And I ?" she said, shaking her head with insane intensity.

"You kiss--and I?
You men! Yes?
And I?
And I ?" "Mother!" Sergey rushed over to her.
What took place then it is unnecessary and impossible to describe...

.
The last words of the colonel were: "I give you my blessing for your death, Seryozha.

Die bravely, like an officer." And they went away.