Harlov still remained silent, and simply dropped in his line; while I—what a sensible fellow, what a sage I felt!
‘Doubtless,’ I began again, ‘you acted imprudently in giving up everything to your daughters. It was most generous on your part, and I am not going to blame you. In our days it is a quality only too rare! But since your daughters are so ungrateful, you ought to show a contempt—yes, a contempt—for them … and not fret——’
‘Stop!’ muttered Harlov suddenly, gnashing his teeth, and his eyes, staring at the pond, glittered wrathfully.… ‘Go away!’
‘But, Martin Petrovitch——’
‘Go away, I tell you, … or I’ll kill you!’
I had come quite close to him; but at the last words I instinctively jumped up. ‘What did you say, Martin Petrovitch?’
‘I’ll kill you, I tell you; go away!’ With a wild moan, a roar, the words broke from Harlov’s breast, but he did not turn his head, and still stared wrathfully straight in front of him. ‘I’ll take you and fling you and your fool’s counsel into the water. You shall learn to pester the old, little milksop!’
‘He’s gone mad!’ flashed through my mind.
I looked at him more attentively, and was completely petrified; Martin Petrovitch was weeping!! Tear after tear rolled from his eyelashes down his cheeks … while his face had assumed an expression utterly savage.…
‘Go away!’ he roared once more, ‘or I’ll kill you, by God! for an example to others!’