"Belkin, that you? Yes? See to it, old fellow, that search is made to-night in the rooms of two scoundrels. Arrest them. Eh--eh--a clerk in the chancery department, Kapiton Reüsov. Eh--eh--and a functionary of the court of exchequer--Anton Driagin--what? Well, yes, of course." Yevsey seized the edge of the table with his hand, feeling a dull pain in his eyes. "So, my friend," said the man with the black beard, throwing himself back on the armchair. He smoothed his beard with both hands, played with his pencil, flung it on the table, and thrust his hands into his trousers' pockets. He was silent for a painfully long time, then he asked sternly, emphasizing each word: "What am I to do with you now?" "Forgive me," came from Yevsey in a whisper. "Klimkov?" mused the black-bearded man, ignoring Yevsey's reply. "Seems to me I heard the name somewhere." "Forgive me," repeated Yevsey. "Do you feel yourself very guilty?" "Very." "That's good. What do you feel guilty of?" Klimkov was silent. He felt as if the black-bearded man sitting so comfortably and calmly in his chair would never let him leave the room. "You don't know? Think!" Klimkov drew more air into his lungs, and began to tell of Rayisa and how she had suffocated the old man. "Lukin?" the man with the blue goggles queried, yawning indifferently. "Aha, that's why your name is familiar to me." He walked over to Yevsey, lifted his chin with his finger, and looked into his face for a few seconds. Then he rang. A heavy tramp was heard, and a big pockmarked fellow with huge wrists appeared at the door, and looked at Yevsey. He had a terrifying way of spreading his red fingers like claws. "Take him, Semyonov." "To the corner cell?" asked the fellow in a hollow voice. "Yes." "Come," said Semyonov. Klimkov wanted to drop on his knees. He was already bending his legs, when the fellow seized him under the arm, and pulled him through the long corridor, down the stone stairway. "What's the matter, brat? Frightened?" he said, pushing Yevsey through a small door. "Such a spider, no face, no skin, yet a rebel!"