"That's what comes of a test," cried a voice.
"It's been of use," cried another.
"Hasn't it been of use too late?" observed a third.
"Who invited him?
Who let him in?
Who is he?
Who is Shatov?
Will he inform, or won't he?" There was a shower of questions.
"If he were an informer he would have kept up appearances instead of cursing it all and going away," observed someone.
"See, Stavrogin is getting up too. Stavrogin has not answered the question either," cried the girl-student.
Stavrogin did actually stand up, and at the other end of the table Kirillov rose at the same time.
"Excuse me, Mr. Stavrogin," Madame Virginsky addressed him sharply, "we all answered the question, while you are going away without a word."
"I see no necessity to answer the question which interests you," muttered Stavrogin.
"But we've compromised ourselves and you won't," shouted several voices.
"What business is it of mine if you have compromised yourselves?" laughed Stavrogin, but his eyes flashed.
"What business?
What business?" voices exclaimed.
Many people got up from their chairs.
"Allow me, gentlemen, allow me," cried the lame man. "Mr. Verhovensky hasn't answered the question either; he has only asked it."
The remark produced a striking effect.
All looked at one another.
Stavrogin laughed aloud in the lame man's face and went out; Kirillov followed him; Verhovensky ran after them into the passage.
"What are you doing?" he faltered, seizing Stavrogin's hand and gripping it with all his might in his.
Stavrogin pulled away his hand without a word.
"Be at Kirillov's directly, I'll come.... It's absolutely necessary for me to see you!..."
"It isn't necessary for me," Stavrogin cut him short.
"Stavrogin will be there," Kirillov said finally.
"Stavrogin, it is necessary for you.
I will show you that there."
They went out.
CHAPTER VIII. IVAN THE TSAREVITCH
They had gone.
Pyotr Stepanovitch was about to rush back to the meeting to bring order into chaos, but probably reflecting that it wasn't worth bothering about, left everything, and two minutes later was flying after the other two.
On the way he remembered a short cut to Filipov's house. He rushed along it, up to his knees in mud, and did in fact arrive at the very moment when Stavrogin and Kirillov were coming in at the gate.
"You here already?" observed Kirillov.
"That's good.
Come in."
"How is it you told us you lived alone," asked Stavrogin, passing a boiling samovar in the passage.
"You will see directly who it is I live with," muttered Kirillov. "Go in."
They had hardly entered when Verhovensky at once took out of his pocket the anonymous letter he had taken from Lembke, and laid it before Stavrogin.
They all then sat down.
Stavrogin read the letter in silence.
"Well?" he asked.
"That scoundrel will do as he writes," Verhovensky explained.
"So, as he is under your control, tell me how to act.
I assure you he may go to Lembke to-morrow."
"Well, let him go."
"Let him go!
And when we can prevent him, too!"
"You are mistaken. He is not dependent on me.