XVIII
Gagin came out to meet me.
‘Have you seen my sister?’ he shouted to me while I was still some distance off.
‘Why, isn’t she at home?’ I asked.
‘No.’
‘She hasn’t come back?’
‘No. I was in fault,’ Gagin went on. ‘I couldn’t restrain myself. Contrary to our agreement, I went to the chapel; she was not there; didn’t she come, then?’
‘She hasn’t been at the chapel?’
‘And you haven’t seen her?’
I was obliged to admit I had seen her.