"And what is more," said Varvara, "she suggests that they've been eaten by the master. She says that you were in the kitchen for some reason or other when she was washing the floors and that you stopped there for a long time."
"I didn't stop there at all long," said Peredonov glumly, "I only washed my hands there and I didn't see any raisins."
"Klavdiushka! Klavdiushka!" shouted Varvara, "Master says he didn't even see the raisins—that means you must have hidden them somewhere."
Klavdia showed her reddened, tear-stained face from the kitchen.
"I didn't take your raisins!" she shouted in a tear-choked voice. "I'll pay for them, but I didn't take them."
"You'll pay for them all right," shouted Varvara angrily. "I'm not obliged to feed you on raisins."
Peredonov burst out laughing and shouted:
"Diushka's got away with a whole pound of raisins!"
"Heartless wretches!" shouted Klavdia, and slammed the door.
After dinner Varvara could not help telling Peredonov what she had heard about Pilnikov. She did not stop to reflect whether this would help her or do her harm, or how Peredonov would act—she spoke simply from malice.