Gerásim dropped his eyes, then suddenly shook himself, again pointed at Mumú, who all this time had been standing by his side, innocently wagging her tail and moving her ears to and fro with curiosity, repeated the sign of strangling over his own neck, and significantly smote himself on the breast, as though declaring that he would take it upon himself to annihilate Mumú. "But thou wilt deceive,"--waved Gavríla to him in reply. Gerásim looked at him, laughed disdainfully, smote himself again on the breast, and slammed the door. All present exchanged glances in silence. "Well, and what 's the meaning of this?"--began Gavríla.--"He has locked himself in." "Let him alone, Gavríla Andréitch,"--said Stepán;--"he 'll do it, if he has promised. That 's the sort of fellow he is.... If he once promises a thing, it 's safe. He is n't like us folks in that respect. What is true is true. Yes." "Yes,"--repeated all, and wagged their heads.--"That 's so. Yes." Uncle Tail opened the window and said "Yes," also. "Well, we shall see, I suppose,"--returned Gavríla;--"but the guard is not to be removed, notwithstanding. Hey, there, Eróshka!"--he added, addressing a poor man in a yellow nankeen kazák coat, who was reckoned as the gardener:--"what hast thou to do? Take a stick and sit here, and if anything happens, run for me on the instant." Eróshka took a stick and sat down on the last step of the staircase. The crowd dispersed, with the exception of a few curious bodies and the small urchins, while Gavríla returned home, and through Liubóff Liubímovna gave orders that the mistress should be informed that everything had been done, and that he himself, in order to make quite sure, had sent the postilion for a policeman. The mistress tied a knot in her handkerchief, poured _eau de cologne_ on it, sniffed at it, wiped her temples, sipped her tea and, being still under the influence of the laurel drops, fell asleep again. An hour after all this commotion, the door of the tiny den opened and Gerásim made his appearance. He wore a new holiday kaftan; he was leading Mumú by a string. Eróshka drew aside and let him pass. Gerásim directed his way toward the gate. All the small boys who were in the courtyard followed him with their eyes in silence. He did not even turn round; he did not put on his cap until he reached the street. Gavríla despatched after him that same Eróshka, in the capacity of observer. Eróshka, perceiving from afar that he had entered an eating-house in company with his dog, awaited his reappearance.