A dark figure muffled up in a sheepskin coat came to the window and, swearing at the weather, handed me a letter.… I hurried away from the window, lit a candle, and read the following: “For God's sake forget everything in the world and come at once! Olga has been murdered. I have lost my head and am going mad.—Yours, A. K.”
Olga murdered! My head grew dizzy, and it was black before my eyes, from this short phrase.… I sat down on the bed and my hands fell at my sides. I was unable to reason!
“Is that you, Pavel Ivanovich?” I heard the voice of the muzhik who had been sent to me ask. “I was just going to drive on to you.… I have a letter for you, too.”
Five minutes later “Screw” and I were driving in a closed carriage towards the Count's estate. The rain rattled on the roof of the carriage, and the whole time there were blinding flashes of lightning in front of us.
XXIV
We heard the roar of the lake.…
The last act of the drama was just beginning, and two of the actors were driving to see a harrowing sight.
“Well, and what do you think awaits us?” I asked dear Pavel Ivanovich.
“I can't imagine.… I don't know.…”
“I also don't know.…”