Rayisa was preparing coffee and an omelet in the kitchen. Her sleeves were drawn up over her elbow, and her white hands darted about dexterously. "When you come back, I'll give you coffee," she promised Yevsey, smiling. Yevsey was kept running all day. He had no chance to observe what was happening in the house, but felt that everything was going well with Rayisa. She was more beautiful than ever. Everybody looked at her with satisfaction. At night when almost sick with exhaustion Yevsey lay down in bed with an unpleasant sticky taste in his mouth, he heard Dorimedont say to Rayisa in an emphatic, authoritative tone: "We mustn't let that boy out of our sight, you understand? He's stupid." Then he and Rayisa entered Yevsey's room. The spy put out his hand with an important air, and said snuffling: "Get up! Tell us how you're going to live now." "I don't know." "If you don't know, who is to know?" The spy's eyes bulged, his face and nose grew purple. He breathed hotly and noisily, resembling an overheated oven. "I know," he answered himself, raising the finger on which was the ring. "You will live with us, with me," said Rayisa kindly. "Yes, you will live with us, and I will find a good place for you." Yevsey was silent. "Well, what's the matter with you?" "Nothing," said Yevsey after a pause. "You ought to thank me, you little fool," Dorimedont explained condescendingly. Yevsey felt that the little grey eyes held him fast to something as if with nails. "We'll be better to you than relatives," continued Dorimedont, walking away, and leaving behind the heavy odor of beer, sweat, and grease. Yevsey opened the window, and listened to the grumbling and stirring of the dark, exhausted city sinking into sleep. A sharp aching pain stole up from somewhere. Faintness seized the boy's body. A thin cord, as it were, cut at his heart, and made breathing difficult. He lay down and groaned and peered into the darkness with frightened eyes. Wardrobes and trunks moved about in the obscurity, black dancing spots rocking to and fro. Walls scarcely visible turned and twisted. All this oppressed Yevsey with unconquerable fear, and pushed him into a stifling corner, from which it was impossible to escape. In Rayisa's room the spy guffawed. "M-m-m-my! Ha, ha, ha! It's nothing--it will pass away--ha, ha! You'll get used--" Yevsey thrust his head under the pillow in order not to hear these irritating exclamations. A minute later, unable to catch his breath, he jumped from bed. The dry dark feet of his master flashed before him, his little red sickly eyes lighted up. Yevsey uttered a short shriek, and ran to Rayisa's door with outstretched hands. He pushed against it and cried: "I'm afraid." Two large bodies in the room bounded to their feet. Someone bawled in a startled angry voice: "Get out of there!" Yevsey fell to his knees, and sank down on the floor at their feet like a frightened lizard. "I'm afraid! I'm afraid!" he squeaked.