"I have patrons," said Peredonov, "but I'm afraid that the Head-Master here will harm my chances--yes, and other people too. All sorts of nonsense is being spread about me. So that in case of any inquiries concerning me, I want to say now that all this talk is rubbish. Don't you believe any of it." Kirillov replied alertly: "I have no time, Ardalyon Borisitch, to give attention to all the town rumours and gossip; I'm up to my neck in work. If my wife didn't help me, I don't know what I should do. But I am fully convinced that all that is being said about you--though I assure you I haven't heard anything--is mere gossip. But the position you have in view doesn't depend on me alone." "They might ask you about it," said Peredonov. Kirillov looked at him in astonishment, and said: "Of course they will. But the real point at issue is that we have in view ..." At this moment Kirillov's wife appeared at the door and said: "Stepan Ivanitch, just a moment." The husband went to her. She whispered to him in a worried way: "I think you'd better not tell this creature that we have Krasilnikov in view. I mistrust this creature--he will try to spoil Krasilnikov's chances." "You think so?" whispered Kirillov. "Yes, yes, you may be right. It's an unpleasant business." He clutched his head. His wife looked at him with professional sympathy and said: "It is better to tell him nothing at all about it--as if there were no vacancy." "Yes, yes, you're right," whispered Kirillov. "But I must run along--it's discourteous." He ran back into his study and began to converse amiably with Peredonov. "So you will--if ..." began Peredonov. "Please rest assured. Please rest assured. I'll have it in view," said Kirillov quickly. "We haven't yet fully decided this question." Peredonov did not understand to what question Kirillov referred, and he felt oppressed and apprehensive. Kirillov went on: "We are establishing a school-map. We've had experts from Peterburg. They've worked at it the whole summer. It cost us nine hundred roubles. We're preparing now for the District meeting. It's a remarkably efficient plan--all distances have been considered and all school points have been mapped out." And Kirillov explained the school-map minutely and at length, that is, the apportioning the District into several small divisions, with a school in each, so that every village would have its school close at hand. Peredonov understood nothing of this and became entangled with his dull thoughts in the wordy strands of the net which Kirillov handled so deftly and quickly. At last he took his leave, hopelessly oppressed. In this house, he thought, they did not want to understand him or even to listen to what he had to say. The host babbled something unintelligible. Trepetov snorted angrily for some reason or other. The hostess came in ungraciously and walked out again--strange people lived in this house, thought Peredonov. A lost day!