"She can do anything," cried Pavel, with deep conviction, holding up his hand as though prepared to take an oath. "They know everything." "Then go to them!" cried Ilya, with complete unconcern. Pavel's words and his excitement were distasteful to him, but he felt no wish to contradict his friend. A dull, blank weariness hindered him from speaking or thinking or even moving. He wanted to be alone, to hear nothing and see nothing and nobody. "And I'll leave you, once and for all," said Pavel threateningly. "I'll go because I understand one thing--I can only live near them, near them I can find all I need--I--they know right and truth! Life to me was never before what it is now, worthy of a man! Who ever respected me before?" "Don't shout so!" said Lunev half aloud. "You wooden idol you!" screamed Pavel. At this moment a little girl came into the shop for a dozen shirt-buttons. Ilya served her politely, took her twenty kopeck piece, twirled it a moment in his fingers, and then gave it back, saying: "I've no change. You can bring it by-and-bye." He had change in his till, but the key was in his room, and he had no inclination to fetch it. When the child had gone Pavel made no show of renewing the quarrel. He stood by the counter, striking his knee with his cap, and looked at his friend as though he expected something from him; but Lunev, who had turned half away, only whistled softly through his teeth. The groaning sound of heavy waggons in the street and the noise of hasty footsteps of passers-by came into the shop, the dust drifted in. "Well--what?" asked Pavel. "Nothing!" "Oh, very well, then--nothing!" "For God's sake, let me alone!" said Ilya impatiently. Gratschev threw on his cap and walked quickly out without another word. Ilya followed him slowly with his eyes, but did not move his head. "Am I ill, I wonder?" he thought. A big, fox-coloured dog looked in at the door, wagged his tail, and made off again. Then an old beggar-woman, quite grey, with a big nose, she begged in a half-whisper: "Please, give me something, kind gentleman." Lunev shook his head. The noise of the busy day swept by outside. It was as though a huge stove were kindled, where wood crackled in the flames, and glowing heat poured out. A cart, loaded with long iron bars, goes by; the ends of the elastic bars reached the ground and struck, clanking, on the pavement. A knife-grinder sharpens a knife; an evil, hissing sound cuts the air.