Lukyánitch stared at me.... A crafty, senile smile distended his withered lips and almost beamed in his melancholy eyes.
"And did she go away with her sister?"—I said at last.
"Yes."
"So that now there is no one in the house?"
"No one...."
"This old man is deceiving me,"—flashed through my head.—"'T is not without cause that he is grinning so craftily.—Listen, Lukyánitch,"—I said aloud;—"dost wish to do me one favour?"
"What is it you wish?"—he enunciated slowly, evidently beginning to feel annoyed by my questions.
"Thou sayest that there is no one in the house; canst thou show it to me? I should be very grateful to thee."
"That is, you want to inspect the rooms?"
"Yes, the rooms."