At the top of the stairs he stood in the corner with his face to the wall and remained so for ten minutes without sound or movement.
He would have stood there longer, but he suddenly caught the sound of soft cautious steps below.
Someone was coming up the stairs.
Shatov remembered he had forgotten to fasten the gate.
"Who's there?" he asked in a whisper.
The unknown visitor went on slowly mounting the stairs without answering.
When he reached the top he stood still; it was impossible to see his face in the dark; suddenly Shatov heard the cautious question:
"Ivan Shatov?"
Shatov said who he was, but at once held out his hand to check his advance. The latter took his hand, and Shatov shuddered as though he had touched some terrible reptile.
"Stand here," he whispered quickly. "Don't go in, I can't receive you just now.
My wife has come back.
I'll fetch the candle."
When he returned with the candle he found a young officer standing there; he did not know his name but he had seen him before.
"Erkel," said the lad, introducing himself.
"You've seen me at Virginsky's."
"I remember; you sat writing.
Listen," said Shatov in sudden excitement, going up to him frantically, but still talking in a whisper. "You gave me a sign just now when you took my hand.
But you know I can treat all these signals with contempt!
I don't acknowledge them.... I don't want them.... I can throw you downstairs this minute, do you know that?"
"No, I know nothing about that and I don't know what you are in such a rage about," the visitor answered without malice and almost ingenuously.
"I have only to give you a message, and that's what I've come for, being particularly anxious not to lose time.
You have a printing press which does not belong to you, and of which you are bound to give an account, as you know yourself.
I have received instructions to request you to give it up to-morrow at seven o'clock in the evening to Liputin.
I have been instructed to tell you also that nothing more will be asked of you."
"Nothing?"
"Absolutely nothing.
Your request is granted, and you are struck off our list.
I was instructed to tell you that positively."
"Who instructed you to tell me?"
"Those who told me the sign."
"Have you come from abroad?"
"I... I think that's no matter to you."
"Oh, hang it!
Why didn't you come before if you were told to?"
"I followed certain instructions and was not alone."
"I understand, I understand that you were not alone.
Eh... hang it!
But why didn't Liputin come himself?"
"So I shall come for you to-morrow at exactly six o'clock in the evening, and we'll go there on foot.
There will be no one there but us three."
"Will Verhovensky be there?"
"No, he won't.
Verhovensky is leaving the town at eleven o'clock to-morrow morning."
"Just what I thought!" Shatov whispered furiously, and he struck his fist on his hip. "He's run off, the sneak!"
He sank into agitated reflection.
Erkel looked intently at him and waited in silence.
"But how will you take it?
You can't simply pick it up in your hands and carry it."
"There will be no need to.
You'll simply point out the place and we'll just make sure that it really is buried there.