believe it, we all just fell down laughing right there...'
'Eh, Timofevna, it was me, not the red-beard, I pulled him away from you by the hair; and the landlord came the day before yesterday to have a row with you, you've got it all mixed up.'
'Wait, I really did mix it up, maybe it was you. Well, why argue over trifles; isn't it all the same for him who pulls his hair?' she laughed.
'Let's go,' Shatov suddenly tugged my arm, 'the gate is creaking; if he finds us here, he'll beat her.'
Before we had time to run up the stairs, there came a drunken shout from the gateway and a flood of curses. Shatov let me into his room and locked the door.
'You'll have to sit here for a moment, if you don't want to get into some whole story. Just listen to him squealing like a pig, he must have stumbled over the sill; he goes sprawling every time.'
However, we did not get away without a story.
VI
Shatov stood at his locked door and listened down the stairs; suddenly he jumped back.
'He's coming here, I just knew it!' he whispered furiously. 'Now he won't leave us alone before midnight.'
There came several heavy thumps of a fist on the door. 'Shatov, Shatov, open up!' yelled the captain. 'Shatov, my friend! ...
I have come to you with greeting, To tell you that the sun has r-r-risen, And that its hot light down is beating
Upon the... for-r-rest ... as it glistens, To tell you that I have awakened, devil take you, All awa-a-akened 'neath... the boughs...
Just like 'neath the blows, ha, ha!
And every bird ... is stirred... with thirst, To tell you I will dr-r-rink my fill, Drink... lord knows what, but dr-r-rink my fill.[63]
So, devil take this foolish curiosity! Shatov, do you understand how good it is to live in the world!'
'Don't answer!' Shatov whispered to me again.
'Open up now! Do you understand that there's something higher than fistfights... among mankind; there are moments of a no-o-oble person... I'm kind, Shatov; I'll forgive you... To hell with tracts, eh, Shatov?'
Silence.
'Do you understand, you ass, that I'm in love, I've bought a tailcoat, look, a tailcoat of love, fifteen roubles; a captain's love calls for social decency... Open up!' he suddenly bellowed wildly, and again pounded violently with his fists.
'Go to hell!' Shatov suddenly bellowed back.
'Ser-r-rf! Slave! And your sister is a ser-r-rf and a slave woman ... a thief!'
'And you, you sold your sister.'
'Lies! I'm a victim of slander, though... with one explanation I could ... do you understand who she is?'
'Who is she?' Shatov, curious, suddenly went up to the door.
'But do you understand?'
'I will, just tell me who she is!'
'I dare to tell! I always dare to tell everything among the public! ...'
'Well, that's hardly true,' Shatov taunted him and motioned for me to listen.
'I don't dare?'
'I say you don't.'
'I don't dare?'
'Go on, speak, if you're not afraid of the master's rod... You're a coward, captain or no!'
'I... I... she... she's...' the captain babbled in a trembling, agitated voice.
'Well?' Shatov put his ear to the door.
There was silence for at least half a minute.
'Sco-o-oundrel!' finally came from beyond the door, and the captain quickly retreated down the stairs, puffing like a samovar and stumbling noisily on each step.
'No, he's cunning, he won't let it out even when he's drunk,' Shatov stepped away from the door.
'But what is all this?' I asked.
Shatov waved his hand, opened the door, and again began to listen down the stairs; he listened for a long time, he even went quietly down a few steps. Finally he came back.
'I don't hear anything, there was no fight; he must have dropped off at once. It's time for you to go.'
'Listen, Shatov, what am I to conclude from all that?'
'Eh, conclude whatever you like,' he answered in a weary and disgusted voice, and sat down at his desk.
I left. An incredible idea was growing stronger and stronger in my imagination. In anguish I thought of the next
