In that case we are all independent from this moment.
But under those circumstances, besides the unpleasantness of Shatov's betrayal and its consequences, you will have brought upon yourselves another little unpleasantness of which you were definitely warned when the union was formed.
As far as I am concerned, I am not much afraid of you, gentlemen.... Don't imagine that I am so involved with you.... But that's no matter."
"Yes, we decide to do it," Liputin pronounced.
"There's no other way out of it," muttered Tolkatchenko, "and if only Liputin confirms about Kirillov, then...
"I am against it; with all my soul and strength I protest against such a murderous decision," said Virginsky, standing up.
"But?" asked Pyotr Stepanovitch....
"But what?"
"You said but... and I am waiting."
"I don't think I did say but... I only meant to say that if you decide to do it, then..."
"Then?"
Virginsky did not answer.
"I think that one is at liberty to neglect danger to one's own life," said Erkel, suddenly opening his mouth, "but if it may injure the cause, then I consider one ought not to dare to neglect danger to one's life...."
He broke off in confusion, blushing.
Absorbed as they all were in their own ideas, they all looked at him in amazement—it was such a surprise that he too could speak.
"I am for the cause," Virginsky pronounced suddenly.
Every one got up.
It was decided to communicate once more and make final arrangements at midday on the morrow, though without meeting.
The place where the printing press was hidden was announced and each was assigned his part and his duty.
Liputin and Pyotr Stepanovitch promptly set off together to Kirillov.
II
All our fellows believed that Shatov was going to betray them; but they also believed that Pyotr Stepanovitch was playing with them like pawns.
And yet they knew, too, that in any case they would all meet on the spot next day and that Shatov's fate was sealed.
They suddenly felt like flies caught in a web by a huge spider; they were furious, but they were trembling with terror.
Pyotr Stepanovitch, of course, had treated them badly; it might all have gone off far more harmoniously and easily if he had taken the trouble to embellish the facts ever so little.
Instead of putting the facts in a decorous light, as an exploit worthy of ancient Rome or something of the sort, he simply appealed to their animal fears and laid stress on the danger to their own skins, which was simply insulting; of course there was a struggle for existence in everything and there was no other principle in nature, they all knew that, but still....
But Pyotr Stepanovitch had no time to trot out the Romans; he was completely thrown out of his reckoning.
Stavrogin's flight had astounded and crushed him.
It was a lie when he said that Stavrogin had seen the vice-governor; what worried Pyotr Stepanovitch was that Stavrogin had gone off without seeing anyone, even his mother—and it was certainly strange that he had been allowed to leave without hindrance. (The authorities were called to account for it afterwards.) Pyotr Stepanovitch had been making inquiries all day, but so far had found out nothing, and he had never been so upset.
And how could he, how could he give up Stavrogin all at once like this!
That was why he could not be very tender with the quintet.
Besides, they tied his hands: he had already decided to gallop after Stavrogin at once; and meanwhile he was detained by Shatov; he had to cement the quintet together once for all, in case of emergency.
"Pity to waste them, they might be of use."
That, I imagine, was his way of reasoning.
As for Shatov, Pyotr Stepanovitch was firmly convinced that he would betray them.
All that he had told the others about it was a lie: he had never seen the document nor heard of it, but he thought it as certain as that twice two makes four.
It seemed to him that what had happened—the death of Liza, the death of Marya Timofyevna—would be too much for Shatov, and that he would make up his mind at once.
Who knows? perhaps he had grounds for supposing it.
It is known, too, that he hated Shatov personally; there had at some time been a quarrel between them, and Pyotr Stepanovitch never forgave an offence.
I am convinced, indeed, that this was his leading motive.
We have narrow brick pavements in our town, and in some streets only raised wooden planks instead of a pavement.
Pyotr Stepanovitch walked in the middle of the pavement, taking up the whole of it, utterly regardless of Liputin, who had no room to walk beside him and so had to hurry a step behind or run in the muddy road if he wanted to speak to him.
Pyotr Stepanovitch suddenly remembered how he had lately splashed through the mud to keep pace with Stavrogin, who had walked, as he was doing now, taking up the whole pavement.
He recalled the whole scene, and rage choked him.
But Liputin, too, was choking with resentment.
Pyotr Stepanovitch might treat the others as he liked, but him!
Why, he knew more than all the rest, was in closer touch with the work and taking more intimate part in it than anyone, and hitherto his services had been continual, though indirect.
Oh, he knew that even now Pyotr Stepanovitch might ruin him if it came to the worst. But he had long hated Pyotr Stepanovitch, and not because he was a danger but because of his overbearing manner.
Now, when he had to make up his mind to such a deed, he raged inwardly more than all the rest put together.
Alas! he knew that next day "like a slave" he would be the first on the spot and would bring the others, and if he could somehow have murdered Pyotr Stepanovitch before the morrow, without ruining himself, of course, he would certainly have murdered him.