Doulebov smiled amiably and replied encouragingly: “The building is not the important thing. The school itself is good. The instruction is to be valued and not the walls.” The Vice-Governor arrived rather late, at eleven, together with Zherbenev, who was an honorary overseer of the school. There was a very tense feeling in the school. The instructors and the students alike trembled before the authorities. Stupid and vulgar scenes with the Headmaster in the town school were common with Doulebov and did not embarrass him. As for Doulebov and his wife, they were fully alive to their importance. They had received only two or three days before definite news of the appointment of Doulebov as assistant to the head of the Educational Department. Inspector Shabalov arrived at the school very early that day. He occupied himself with attentions to Zinaida Grigorievna Doulebova, to whom he showed various services with an unexpected and rather vulgar amiableness. The instructor-inspector, Mikhail Prokopievitch Poterin, conducted himself like a lackey. It was even evident at times that he trembled before the Doulebovs. What reason had he to be afraid? He was a great patriot--a member of the Black Hundred. He accepted bribes, beat his pupils, drank considerably--and he always got off easily. Zinaida Grigorievna Doulebova examined the graduating classes in French and English. These studies were optional. Inspector Poterin’s wife gave instruction in French. She had not yet fully mastered the Berlitz method, and looked at the Doulebovs cringingly. But at heart she was bitter--at her poverty, abjectness, and dependence. Poterin knew no languages; but he was also present here, and hissed malignantly at those who answered awkwardly or did not answer at all: “Blockhead! Numskull!” Doulebova sat motionless and made no sign that she heard this zealous hissing and these coarse words. She would give freedom to her tongue later, at luncheon. A luncheon had been prepared for the visitors and the instructors. It cost Poterin’s wife much trouble and anxiety. The table was set in the large room, where on ordinary days the small boys made lively and wrangled in recess-time. They were excluded on this day, and raised a racket outside. Doulebova sat at the head of the table, between the Vice-Governor and Zherbenev; Doulebov sat next to the Vice-Governor. A pie was brought in; then tea. Zinaida Grigorievna abused the instructors’ wives and the instructresses. She loved gossip--indeed, who does not? The instructors’ wives gossiped to her. During the luncheon the small boys, having resumed their places in the neighbouring class, sang: _What songs, what songs, Our Russia does sing. Do what you like--though you burst, Frenchman, you’ll never sing like that_. And other songs in the same spirit. Doulebov wiped his face with his right hand--like a cat licking its paw--and piped out: “I hear that the Marquis Teliatnikov is to pay us a visit soon.”