But suddenly he recalled that Mourin was very hospitable with food and drink, so he said:
"Well, I can come to you on Monday."
Mourin showed great pleasure at this, and was about to ask Vershina and Marta also, but Peredonov said:
"I don't want any ladies. We might get a little tipsy and blurt out something which would be awkward in their presence."
When Peredonov left, Vershina said sneeringly:
"Ardalyon Borisitch is acting curiously. He would very much like to be an inspector, and it looks to me as if Varvara were leading him by the nose. So he's up to all sorts of tricks."
Vladya—who had hidden himself while Peredonov was there—came out and said with a malicious smile:
"The locksmith's sons have found out from someone that it was Peredonov who told about them."
"They'll break his windows," exclaimed Vitkevitch laughing gleefully.