"I don't know; that 's as a person fancies. In my opinion, she is n't comely."
"How so?"
"Because—she 's very ill-favoured. A bit puny."
"You don't say so! And has no one except them come hither?"
"No one. Who should come?"
"But that cannot be!... I ...."
"Eh, master! there 's no end of talking with you, apparently,"—retorted the old man with vexation.—"Whew, how cold it is! Good-bye."
"Stay, stay .... here 's something for thee...." And I held out to him a quarter of a ruble which I had prepared beforehand; but my hand came into contact with the swiftly banged wicket-gate. The silver coin fell to the ground, rolled away, and lay at my feet.
"Ah, thou old rascal!"—I thought—"Don Quixote de La Mancha! Evidently, thou hast received orders to hold thy tongue.... But wait, thou shalt not trick me."...
I promised myself that I would elucidate the matter, at any cost. For about half an hour I paced to and fro, without knowing what decision to adopt. At last I made up my mind first to inquire in the village, precisely who had arrived at the manor, and who she was, then to return, and, as the saying runs, not desist until the matter was cleared up.—And if the Unknown should come out of the house, I would, at last, see her by daylight, near at hand, like a living woman, not like a vision.