Kramarenko looked at Peredonov in astonishment and ran past him without speaking. He belonged to that number of pupils who thought Peredonov coarse, stupid and unjust, and who therefore disliked and despised him. The majority of the pupils thought similarly. Peredonov imagined that these were the boys who had been prejudiced against him by the Head-Master, if not personally, at least through his sons. Peredonov was approached on the other side of the fence by Volodin. He was chuckling happily, and his face was as cheerful as if it were his birthday; he wore a bowler hat and carried his cane in the fashionable way. "I've something to tell you, Ardalyon Borisitch," he said gleefully. "I've managed to persuade Cherepnin, and very soon he's going to smear Marta's gate with tar!" Peredonov said nothing for a moment. He seemed to be considering something, and then suddenly burst into his usual morose laughter. Volodin at once ceased grinning, assumed a sober look, straightened his bowler hat, looked at the sky, swung his stick and said: "It's a fine day, but it looks as if it will rain this evening. Well, let it rain; I shall spend the evening at the future inspector's house." "I can't waste any time at home now," said Peredonov, "I've got more important affairs to attend to in town." Volodin looked as if he comprehended, though he really had no idea what business Peredonov had to attend to. Peredonov determined that he must, without fail, make several visits. Yesterday's chance meeting with the Lieutenant-Colonel had suggested to him an idea which now seemed to him very important: to make the rounds of all important personages of the town to assure them of his loyalty. If he should succeed, then, in an emergency, Peredonov would find defenders in the town who would testify to the correctness of his attitude. "Where are you going, Ardalyon Borisitch?" asked Volodin, seeing that Peredonov was turning off from the path by which he usually went back from church. "Aren't you going home?" "Yes, I'm going home," answered Peredonov, "but I don't like to go along that street now." "Why?" "There's a lot of _durman_[2] growing there, and the smell's very strong. I'm very much affected by it--it stupefies me. My nerves are on edge just now. I seem to have nothing but worries." Volodin's face once more assumed a comprehending and sympathetic expression. On the way Peredonov pulled off some thistle-heads and put them in his pocket. "What do you want those thistle-heads for?" asked Volodin with a grin. "For the cat," answered Peredonov gruffly. "Are you going to stick them in its fur?" asked Volodin. "Yes." Volodin sniggered. "Don't begin without me," he cried.