Kramarenko also paused and continued to look at Peredonov. They stood facing one another on the loose pavement of the deserted street, beside the grey, depressing fence. Kramarenko trembled and said in a hissing voice: "Scoundrel!" He smiled and turned to go away. He made three steps, paused, looked around and repeated louder: "What a scoundrel! Vermin!" He spat and walked away. Peredonov looked after him and then turned homewards. Confused and timorous thoughts crowded through his head. Vershina called to him. She stood smoking behind the bars of her garden-gate, wrapped up in a large black shawl. Peredonov did not at once recognise her. Something malignant in her figure seemed to threaten him. She stood like a black sorceress and blew out smoke, as if she were casting a spell. He spat and pronounced an exorcism. Vershina laughed and asked: "What's the matter with you, Ardalyon Borisitch?" Peredonov looked vaguely at her and said at last: "Ah, it's you! I didn't recognise you." "That's a good sign. It means I'll soon be rich," said Vershina. This did not please Peredonov, he wanted to be rich himself. "Get away!" he exclaimed angrily. "Why should you be rich--you'll always be what you are now." "Never mind, I shall win twenty thousand," said Vershina with a wry smile. "No, I shall win the twenty thousand," argued Peredonov. "I shall be in one drawing and you'll be in another," said Vershina. "You're lying," said Peredonov angrily. "Who ever heard of two people winning at once in the same town. I tell you I'm going to win it." Vershina noticed that he was angry. She ceased to argue. She opened the gate to entice him in and said: "There's no reason for you to stand there. Come in, Mourin's here." Mourin's name recalled something pleasant to Peredonov--drink and _zakouska._ He entered. In the drawing-room, darkened by the trees outside, sat Marta, looking very happy, with a red sash on and with a kerchief round her neck, Mourin, more unkempt than usual, and very cheerful for some reason or other, and a grown-up schoolboy, Vitkevitch. He paid attentions to Vershina, and imagined that she was in love with him: he thought of leaving the school, marrying Vershina and managing her estate. Mourin met Peredonov with exaggeratedly cordial exclamations, his expression became even gayer and his little eyes looked fat--all this did not go with his stout figure and untidy hair in which even some whisps of straw could be seen. "I'm attending to business," he said loudly and hoarsely. "I've business everywhere, and here these charming ladies are spoiling me with tea." "Business?" replied Peredonov gruffly. "What sort of business have you got? You are not in Government Service and you've got money coming in. Now I have business." "Well, what if you have, it's only getting other people's money," said Mourin with a loud laugh.