"I'm not shouting," replied Nikoläiev, still speaking in a rough and coarse, though somewhat subdued tone. "I'm only trying to make you see what your duty is, although I have a right to demand it. Our former intimate relations give me this right. If Alexandra Petrovna's unblemished name is still of any value to you, then, without delay, put a stop to these infamies." "All right. I will do all I can as regards that," was Romashov's dry answer. He turned away and went on. In the middle of the pathway, Nikoläiev caught him up in a few steps. "Please wait a moment." Nikoläiev's voice sounded more gentle, and seemed even to have lost some of its assertiveness and force. "I submit, now the matter has at last been talked about, we ought also to cease our acquaintance. What do you say yourself?" "Perhaps so." "You must yourself have noticed the kindness and sympathy with which we--that is to say, Alexandra Petrovna and I--received you at our house. But if I should now be forced to--I need say no more; you know well enough how scandal rankles in this wretched little provincial hole." "Very well," replied Romashov gloomily. "I shall cease my visits. That, I take it, was what you wished. I may tell you, moreover, that I had already made up my mind not to enter your door again. A few days ago I paid Alexandra Petrovna a very short call to return her some books, but you may be absolutely certain that was the last time." "Yes, that is best so; I think----" Nikoläiev did not finish the sentence, and was evidently anything but easy in his mind. The two officers reached the road at this moment. There still remained some three hundred yards before they came to the town. Without uttering another word or even deigning to glance at each other, they continued on their way, side by side. Neither of them could make up his mind either to stop or turn back, and the situation became more awkward every minute. At length they reached the furthest houses of the town. An _isvostschik_ drove up and was at once hailed by Nikoläiev. "That's agreed then, Yuri Alexievich." Nikoläiev uttered these words in a vulgar, unpleasant tone, and then got into the _droshky_. "Good-bye and _au revoir_." The two officers did not shake hands, and their salute at parting was very curt. Romashov stood still for a moment, and stared, through the cloud of dust, at the hurrying _droshky_ and Nikoläiev's strong, white neck. He suddenly felt like the most lonely and forsaken man in the wide world, and it seemed to him as if he had, then and there, despoiled himself of all that had hitherto made his life at all worth living. Slowly he made his way home. Hainán met him in the yard, and saluted him, from a distance, with his broad grin. His face beamed with benevolence and delight as he took off his master's cloak, and, after a few minutes, he began his usual curious dance.