The evening came. A melancholy wind blew in the chimney. A slow rain tapped on the window quietly and persistently. It was quite black outside. Volodin was at the Peredonovs'--Peredonov had invited him early that morning to the supper. "Don't let anyone in. Do you hear, Klavdiushka?" shouted Peredonov. Varvara smiled. Peredonov muttered: "All sorts of women are prowling around here. A watch should be kept. One got into my bedroom; she asked to be taken on as cook. But why should I have a pug-nosed cook?" Volodin laughed bleatingly and said: "There are women walking about in the street, but they have nothing to do with us, and we shan't let them join us at our table." The three of them sat down at the table. They began to drink vodka, and to eat tarts. They drank more than they ate. Peredonov was gloomy. Everything had already become a senseless and incoherent delirium for him. He had a painful headache. One picture repeated itself persistently--that of Volodin as an enemy. One idea importuned and assailed him ceaselessly: it was that he must kill Pavloushka before it was too late. And then all the inimical cunning would become revealed. As for Volodin, he was rapidly becoming drunk, and he kept up an incoherent jabber, much to Varvara's amusement. Peredonov seemed restless. He mumbled: "Someone is coming. Don't let anyone in. Tell them that I have gone away to pray at the _Tarakani_[1] monastery." He was afraid that visitors might hinder him. Volodin and Varvara were amused--they thought that he was only drunk. They exchanged winks, and walked out separately and knocked on the door, and said in different voices: "Is General Peredonov at home?" "I've brought General Peredonov a diamond star." But the star did not tempt Peredonov that evening. He shouted: "Don't let them in! Chuck them out! Let them bring it in the morning. Now is not the time." "No," he thought, "I need all my strength to-night. Everything will be revealed to-night--but until then my enemies are ready to send anything and everything against me to destroy me." "Well, we've chased them away. They'll bring it to-morrow morning," said Volodin, as he seated himself once more at the table. Peredonov fixed his troubled eyes upon him, and asked: "Are you a friend to me or an enemy?" "A friend, a friend, Ardasha!" replied Volodin. "A friend with true love is like a beetle behind the stove," said Varvara. "Not a beetle but a ram," corrected Peredonov. "Well, you and I will drink together, Pavloushka, only we two. And you, Varvara, drink also--we'll drink together, we two." Volodin said with a snigger: "If Varvara Dmitrievna drinks with us, it won't be two but three." "Two, I say," repeated Peredonov morosely. "Husband and wife are one Satan," said Varvara, and began to laugh.