“On the former occasion I needed money, and you had what I lacked. This is the same case. No one will touch you, while I should be sent off. I am now logical enough.”
“You ask a remarkable service. I am just going to the Governor, who has sent for me. Good-bye.”
“He has sent for you, then?”
“What am I to do? What should I say?”
“Say that you are the hero of the piece, and the Governor will quash the whole matter, for he does not like sending special reports to St. Petersburg. With me it is quite different. I am under police supervision, and it is his duty to return a report every month as to my circumstances and my mode of life. However,” he added with apparent indifference, “do as you like. And now come, for I have no more time either. Let us go as far as the wood together, and I will climb down the precipice. I will wait at the fisherman’s on the island to see how the matter ends.”
At the edge of the precipice Mark vanished into the bushes. Raisky drove to the Governor’s, and returned home about two o’clock in the morning.
Although he had gone so late to bed, he rose early. The windows of Vera’s room were still darkened. She is still sleeping, he thought, and he went into the garden, where he walked up and down for an hour, waiting for the drawing back of the lilac curtain. He hoped Marina would cross the yard, but she did not come. Then Tatiana Markovna’s window was opened, the pigeons and the sparrows began to gather on the spot were they were wont to receive crumbs from Marfinka, doors opened and shut, the grooms and the servants crossed the yard, but the lilac curtain remained untouched. The gloomy Savili came out of his room and looked silently round the yard. When Raisky called him he came towards him with slow steps.
“Tell Marina to let me know when Vera Vassilievna is dressed.”
“Marina is not here.”
“Where is she?”