Gerásim dropped his eyes, then suddenly shook himself, again pointed at Mumú, who all this time had been standing by his side, innocently wagging her tail and moving her ears to and fro with curiosity, repeated the sign of strangling over his own neck, and significantly smote himself on the breast, as though declaring that he would take it upon himself to annihilate Mumú.
"But thou wilt deceive,"—waved Gavríla to him in reply.
Gerásim looked at him, laughed disdainfully, smote himself again on the breast, and slammed the door.
All present exchanged glances in silence.
"Well, and what 's the meaning of this?"—began Gavríla.—"He has locked himself in."
"Let him alone, Gavríla Andréitch,"—said Stepán;—"he 'll do it, if he has promised. That 's the sort of fellow he is.... If he once promises a thing, it 's safe. He is n't like us folks in that respect. What is true is true. Yes."
"Yes,"—repeated all, and wagged their heads.—"That 's so. Yes."
Uncle Tail opened the window and said "Yes," also.
"Well, we shall see, I suppose,"—returned Gavríla;—"but the guard is not to be removed, notwithstanding. Hey, there, Eróshka!"—he added, addressing a poor man in a yellow nankeen kazák coat, who was reckoned as the gardener:—"what hast thou to do? Take a stick and sit here, and if anything happens, run for me on the instant."