With a grim animation he entered Vershina's garden. Vershina, as nearly always, was standing at the gate smoking. She was very pleased: formerly, she had to lure him in, now he came in himself. Vershina thought:
"That comes of his going on a trip with Marta; he spent some time with her and now he's come again. I wonder if he means to propose to her?"
Peredonov disillusioned her immediately by showing her the letter.
"You kept disbelieving it," he said, "and here the Princess has written. Read that and see for yourself."
Vershina looked incredulously at the letter, quickly blew tobacco smoke on it several times running, made a wry smile and asked quietly and quickly:
"But where's the envelope?"
Peredonov suddenly felt alarmed. He suspected that Varvara was trying to deceive him and had written the letter herself. He must get the envelope from her at once.
"I don't know," he said, "I must ask."
He said good-bye to Vershina and went quickly back to his own house. It was absolutely necessary for him to assure himself as soon as possible of the source of the letter—the sudden doubt tormented him. Vershina, standing at the gate, looked after him with her wry smile, rapidly puffing out cigarette smoke, as if she were trying to finish the cigarette like a tiresome lesson.
Peredonov came running home with a frightened and tormented face, and while yet in the passage he shouted in a voice hoarse with agitation: