The hole had already grown fairly deep. People saw Misha's work and ran to report about it to the speculator-owner. At first the speculator flew into a rage, and wanted to send for the police. "What hypocrisy!" he said. But afterward, reflecting, probably, that it would be inconvenient to have a row with that lunatic, and that a scandal might be the result, he betook himself in person to the churchyard, and approaching the toiling Misha, he made a polite obeisance to him. The latter continued to dig, as though he had not noticed his successor. "Mikhail Andreitch," began the speculator, "permit me to inquire what you are doing there?" "As you see--I am digging a grave for myself." "Why are you doing that?" "Because I do not wish to live any longer." The speculator fairly flung apart his hands in surprise.--"You do not wish to live?" Misha cast a menacing glance at the speculator:--"Does that surprise you? Are not you the cause of it all?... Is it not you?... Is it not thou?...[15] Is it not thou, Judas, who hast robbed me, by taking advantage of my youth? Dost not thou skin the peasants? Is it not thou who hast deprived this decrepit old man of his daily bread? Is it not thou?... O Lord! Everywhere there is injustice, and oppression, and villainy.... So down with everything,--and with me also! I don't wish to live--I don't wish to live any longer in Russia!"--And the spade made swifter progress than ever in Misha's hands. "The devil knows the meaning of this!" thought the speculator: "he actually is burying himself."--"Mikhail Andreitch,"--he began afresh, "listen; I really am guilty toward you; people did not represent you properly to me." Misha went on digging. "But why this recklessness?" Misha went on digging--and flung the dirt on the speculator, as much as to say: "Take that, earth-devourer!" "Really, you have no cause for this. Will not you come to my house to eat and rest?" Misha raised his head a little. "Now you're talking! And will there be anything to drink?" The speculator was delighted.--"Good gracious!... I should think so!" "And dost thou invite Timofei also?" "But why ... well, I invite him also." Misha reflected.--"Only look out ... for thou didst turn me out of doors.... Don't think thou art going to get off with one bottle!" "Do not worry ... there will be as much as you wish of everything." Misha flung aside his spade.... "Well, Timosha," he said, addressing his old man-nurse, "let us honour the host.... Come along!" "I obey," replied the old man. And all three wended their way toward the house.