Peredonov left Julia at midnight, when she began to expect her husband's return. He walked in the dark streets, morose and gloomy. It seemed to him that someone had been standing by the house and was now following him. He mumbled:
"I went on account of my work. It wasn't my fault. She wanted it herself. You can't deceive me—you've got the wrong man."
Varvara was not yet asleep when he returned. Her cards were lying in front of her.
It seemed to Peredonov that someone might step in when he entered. It was possible that Varvara herself had let the enemy come in. Peredonov said:
"If I go to sleep you'll bewitch me with the cards. Give me the cards, or you'll bewitch me."
He took the cards away and hid them under his pillow. Varvara smiled and said:
"You're making a fool of yourself. I haven't the power to bewitch anyone, and as if I wanted it!"
He felt vexed and frightened because she was smiling: that meant, he thought, that she might bewitch him even without cards. The cat was shrinking under the bed, and his green eyes sparkled—one might be bewitched by his fur, if it were stroked in the dark so that electric sparks flew from it. Behind the chest of drawers the grey nedotikomka gleamed again—was it not Varvara who called it up at nights with a slight whistle like a snore!
Peredonov dreamed a repulsive, terrible dream: Pilnikov came, stood on the threshold, beckoned him and smiled. It was as if someone drew him towards Pilnikov, who led him through dark, dirty streets while the cat ran beside and his green eyes gleamed and shone....