“I’ve got together all sorts of information here and elsewhere,” he went on. “Curious things they tell about him, very curious indeed. And where did he get his money? In general there are many suspicious circumstances about his life.” “Suspicious for whom?” asked Elena. “And what affair is it of ours?” “What affair is it of yours, my charming maidens?” repeated Ostrov after her. “I have a well-founded suspicion that you are acquainted with Mr. Trirodov, and I therefore hope that you’ll tell me something about him.” “You had better not hope,” said Elisaveta. “And why not?” observed Ostrov in a familiar tone. “He’s an old acquaintance of mine. In years gone by we lived, drank, and roamed together. And quite suddenly I lost sight of him, and now quite as suddenly I’ve found him again. Naturally, I’m interested. As an old friend, you see!” “Now, look here,” said Elisaveta, “we do not wish to converse with you. You had better go where you were going. We know nothing that would interest you and we have nothing to say to you.” “So that’s it!” said Ostrov, with an insolent smile. “And now, my beauty, I’d better tell you that you’re expressing yourself a little carelessly. Suppose I whistled suddenly, eh?” “What for?” asked Elisaveta, astonished. “What for-r? Well, some one may come out to my whistle.” “What then?” asked Elisaveta. After a short silence Ostrov resumed his threatening tone: “You may be asked to give a few details about what Mr. Trirodov is doing behind his walls.” “Nonsense!” said Elisaveta in vexation. “In any case, I’m only joking,” said Ostrov, suddenly changing his tone. He was listening intently. Some one was coming towards them. The sisters recognized Piotr and walked quickly to meet him. From their haste and flustered manner Piotr understood that the man was distasteful to them. He eyed him fixedly and recalled where he had met him, whereupon he frowned and asked the sisters: “Who is this?” “A very inquisitive person who somehow has got an idea that we have many interesting things to tell him about Trirodov,” said Elisaveta with a smile. Ostrov raised his hat and said: “I’ve had the honour to see you on the float.” “Well, what of it?” asked Piotr sharply. “Well--er, I have the honour to remind you,” said Ostrov with exaggerated politeness. “What are you doing here?” asked Piotr. “I’ve had the pleasure of meeting these charming young ladies,” Ostrov began to explain. Piotr interrupted him sharply: “And now you let the young ladies alone and go away from here.” “Why shouldn’t I have turned to these young ladies with a polite question and an interesting tale?” asked Ostrov. Piotr, without replying, turned to the sisters: “You little girls are ready to enter into conversation with every vagrant.” An expression of bitterness crept into Ostrov’s face. Possibly this was only a game, but it was certainly well played. It made Piotr feel uncomfortable. “A vagrant? And what is a vagrant?” asked Ostrov.