The dependents waved their hands in despair at Stepán; the latter picked up Mumú and flung her out into the yard as speedily as possible, straight at Gerásim's feet; and half an hour later a profound stillness reigned in the house, and the old gentlewoman sat on her divan more lowering than a thunder-cloud. What trifles, when one comes to think of it, can sometimes put a person out of tune! The lady was out of sorts until evening, talked with no one, did not play cards, and passed a bad night. She took it into her head that they had not given her the same _eau de cologne_ which they usually gave her, that her pillow smelled of soap, and made the keeper of the linen-closet smell all the bed-linen twice,--in a word, she was upset and extremely incensed. On the following morning she ordered Gavríla to be summoned to her presence an hour earlier than usual. "Tell me, please,"--she began, as soon as the latter, not without some inward quaking, had crossed the threshold of her boudoir,--"why that dog was barking in our courtyard all night long? It prevented my getting to sleep!" "A dog, ma'am .... which one, ma'am?... Perhaps it was the dumb man's dog,"--he uttered in a voice that was not altogether firm. "I don't know whether it belongs to the dumb man or to some one else, only it interfered with my sleep. And I am amazed that there is such a horde of dogs! I want to know about it. We have a watch-dog, have we not?" "Yes, ma'am, we have, ma'am, Peg-top, ma'am." "Well, what need have we for any more dogs? They only create disorder. There 's no head to the house,--that 's what 's the matter. And what does the dumb man want of a dog? Who has given him permission to keep a dog in my courtyard? Yesterday I went to the window, and it was lying in the garden; it had brought some nasty thing there, and was gnawing it,--and I have roses planted there...." The lady paused for a while. "See that it is removed this very day .... dost hear me?" "I obey, ma'am." "This very day. And now, go. I will have thee called for thy report later." Gavríla left the room. As he passed through the drawing-room, the major-domo transferred a small bell from one table to another, for show, softly blew his duck's-bill nose in the hall, and went out into the anteroom. In the anteroom, on a locker, Stepán was sleeping in the attitude of a slain warrior in a battalion picture, with his bare legs projecting from his coat, which served him in lieu of a coverlet.