Peredonov did not reply. He looked gloomily about him, where, behind their drowsy little gardens and wavering hedges, loomed the dark shapes of a few scattered houses. "You just wait at the gate," said Routilov persuasively, "I'll bring out the loveliest one--whichever one you like. Listen, I'll prove it to you. Twice two is four, isn't it?" "Yes," assented Peredonov. "Well, as twice two is four, so it's your duty to marry one of my sisters." Peredonov was impressed. "It's quite true," he thought, "of course, twice two is four." And he looked respectfully at the shrewd Routilov. "Well, it'll come to marrying one of them. You can't argue with him." The friends at that moment reached the Routilovs' house and stopped at the gate. "Well, you can't do it by force," said Peredonov angrily. "You're a queer fellow," exclaimed Routilov. "They've waited until they're tired." "And perhaps I don't want to!" said Peredonov. "What do you mean by that? You are a queer chap. Are you going to be a shiftless fellow all your life?" asked Routilov. "Or are you getting ready to enter a monastery? Or aren't you tired of Varya yet? Think what a face she'll make when you bring your young wife home." Peredonov gave a cackle, but immediately frowned and said: "And perhaps they also don't want to?" "What do you mean--they don't want to? You are an odd fellow," answered Routilov, "I give you my word." "They'll be too proud," objected Peredonov. "Why should that bother you? It's all the better." "They're gigglers." "But they never giggle at your expense," said Routilov comfortingly. "How do I know?" "You'd better believe me. I'm not fooling you. They respect you. After all you're not a kind of Pavloushka, who'd make anybody laugh." "Yes, if I take your word for it," said Peredonov incredulously. "But no, I want to be convinced myself." "Well, you are an odd fellow!" said Routilov in astonishment. "But how would they dare laugh at you? Still, is there any way I can prove it to you?" Peredonov reflected and said: "Let them come into the street at once." "Very well, that's possible," agreed Routilov. "All three of them," continued Peredonov. "Very well." "And let each one say how she'll please me." "Why all this?" asked Routilov in astonishment. "I'll find out what they want, and then you won't lead me by the nose." "No one's going to lead you by the nose." "Perhaps they'll want to laugh at me," argued Peredonov. "Now if they come out and want to laugh, it is I who'll be able to laugh at them!" Routilov reflected, pushed his hat on to the back of his head and then forward over his forehead, and said at last: "All right, you wait here and I'll go in and tell them--but you're certainly an odd fellow. You'd better come into the front garden or else the devil'll bring someone along the street and you'll be seen." "I'll spit on them," said Peredonov. Nevertheless, he entered the gate.