Then, resting his elbows on the marble-topped table, he went on slowly and quietly, with a sudden access of bitter anger: "I did see him once, and I thought: 'This is the man who stands in my way and has spoilt my life;' and if I did not strangle him then and there----" "Don't tell lies!" cried Olympiada, loudly, and struck the table. "It is a lie! He was not in your way." "How was he not?" "He did nothing to you. You had only to wish it, and I'd have given him the go-by. Didn't I tell you I'd show him the door right away, if you wanted it? You smile there and you don't say anything. You never really loved me. It was your own choice to share with him. You worthless----" "Stop! Be quiet!" cried Ilya. He sprang up, but at once sat down again, as though the woman had crushed him by her accusation. "I will not be quiet!" she cried aloud. "I loved you because you were good-looking and wholesome; and you, what have you done to me? Did you ever say: 'Choose--him or me!' Did you ever say it? No! You were nothing but a love-sick tom-cat, like all the others." Ilya started at this insulting reproach. There was a darkness before his eyes, and with clenched fist he sprang up again. "Stop! How dare you?" "You'll strike me, will you? Well, then, do it!" and her eyes flashed threateningly and she ground her teeth. "Strike me, and I'll tear the door open and cry out that you killed him and planned it with me. Well, do it!" For a moment Ilya was paralysed with fear, but the feeling only touched his heart and vanished at once. Only he breathed with difficulty, as though unseen hands had him by the throat. Again he sank back on the divan, was silent for a while, then gave a forced laugh. He saw Olympiada bite her lips and look as if seeking something round the dirty room, full of a damp, soapy vapour. Then she sat down on the divan close to the door, let her head fall, and said: "Laugh away, you devil!" "I will, certainly." "When I saw you, I said 'that's the man for me, he'll help me, save me.'" "Lipa," said Ilya gently. She sat motionless and did not answer. "Lipa," he repeated, and then with a sense as of hurling himself into an abyss, he said slowly, clearly: "I did strangle the old man, by God!" She shuddered, lifted her head and looked at him with wide eyes. Her lips began to tremble and she stammered: "Silly boy, how frightened you are!" Ilya understood that it was she who felt the fear, and did not want to believe his words. He got up, moved nearer, and sat down beside her, smiling vaguely. She caught his head to her breast, and whispered in her deep voice, as she kissed his hair: "Ilushka! Ilushka! Why do you hurt me so? I was so glad you killed him, the old sneak." "Yes, I did it," he said, and nodded his head. "Sh!" said the woman, anxiously. "I'm glad he's out of the way. That's what should happen to them all--all who ever touched me. You are the only man I ever met. You are the first, my dear one."