"No, no, but while I'm running (oh, I'll make Madame Virginsky come), will you go to the foot of my staircase and quietly listen? But don't venture to go in, you'll frighten her; don't go in on any account, you must only listen... in case anything dreadful happens.
If anything very bad happens, then run in."
"I understand.
I've another rouble.
Here it is.
I meant to have a fowl to-morrow, but now I don't want to, make haste, run with all your might.
There's a samovar all the night."
Kirillov knew nothing of the present design against Shatov, nor had he had any idea in the past of the degree of danger that threatened him.
He only knew that Shatov had some old scores with "those people," and although he was to some extent involved with them himself through instructions he had received from abroad (not that these were of much consequence, however, for he had never taken any direct share in anything), yet of late he had given it all up, having left off doing anything especially for the "cause," and devoted himself entirely to a life of contemplation.
Although Pyotr Stepanovitch had at the meeting invited Liputin to go with him to Kirillov's to make sure that the latter would take upon himself, at a given moment, the responsibility for the "Shatov business," yet in his interview with Kirillov he had said no word about Shatov nor alluded to him in any way—probably considering it impolitic to do so, and thinking that Kirillov could not be relied upon. He put off speaking about it till next day, when it would be all over and would therefore not matter to Kirillov; such at least was Pyotr Stepanovitch's judgment of him.
Liputin, too, was struck by the fact that Shatov was not mentioned in spite of what Pyotr Stepanovitch had promised, but he was too much agitated to protest.
Shatov ran like a hurricane to Virginsky's house, cursing the distance and feeling it endless.
He had to knock a long time at Virginsky's; every one had been asleep a long while.
But Shatov did not scruple to bang at the shutters with all his might.
The dog chained up in the yard dashed about barking furiously.
The dogs caught it up all along the street, and there was a regular babel of barking.
"Why are you knocking and what do you want?" Shatov heard at the window at last Virginsky's gentle voice, betraying none of the resentment appropriate to the "outrage."
The shutter was pushed back a little and the casement was opened.
"Who's there, what scoundrel is it?" shrilled a female voice which betrayed all the resentment appropriate to the "outrage." It was the old maid, Virginsky's relation.
"I am Shatov, my wife has come back to me and she is just confined...."
"Well, let her be, get along."
"I've come for Arina Prohorovna; I won't go without Arina Prohorovna!"
"She can't attend to every one.
Practice at night is a special line. Take yourself off to Maksheyev's and don't dare to make that din," rattled the exasperated female voice.
He could hear Virginsky checking her; but the old maid pushed him away and would not desist.
"I am not going away!" Shatov cried again.
"Wait a little, wait a little," Virginsky cried at last, overpowering the lady.
"I beg you to wait five minutes, Shatov. I'll wake Arina Prohorovna. Please don't knock and don't shout.... Oh, how awful it all is!"
After five endless minutes, Arina Prohorovna made her appearance.
"Has your wife come?" Shatov heard her voice at the window, and to his surprise it was not at all ill-tempered, only as usual peremptory, but Arina Prohorovna could not speak except in a peremptory tone.
"Yes, my wife, and she is in labour."
"Marya Ignatyevna?"
"Yes, Marya Ignatyevna.
Of course it's Marya Ignatyevna."
A silence followed.
Shatov waited.
He heard a whispering in the house.
"Has she been here long?" Madame Virginsky asked again.
"She came this evening at eight o'clock.
Please make haste."
Again he heard whispering, as though they were consulting.
"Listen, you are not making a mistake?
Did she send you for me herself?"
"No, she didn't send for you, she wants a peasant woman, so as not to burden me with expense, but don't be afraid, I'll pay you."
"Very good, I'll come, whether you pay or not.
I always thought highly of Marya Ignatyevna for the independence of her sentiments, though perhaps she won't remember me.
Have you got the most necessary things?"
"I've nothing, but I'll get everything, everything."
"There is something generous even in these people," Shatov reflected, as he set off to Lyamshin's.
"The convictions and the man are two very different things, very likely I've been very unfair to them!...