Egorka was buried. His mother wept long over his grave in long-drawn-out wails, then went home. She was convinced that her boy would be far better off there than upon the earth, and was consoled. But such truly Russian people as Kerbakh, Ostrov, and others would not be consoled. They let loose evil rumours. The report spread:
"The Jews have tortured a Christian boy. They've cut him up with knives and used his blood in their matzoth."[26]
[Footnote 26: Unleavened bread of the Passover.]
The slanderers were not deterred by the consideration that the Jewish Passover had taken place very much earlier than the running away of Egorka from his mother.
The townsmen were agitated--those who believed as well as those who did not believe the tale. Demands were made for an investigation and the op
