She spoke quickly, with a look of alarm in her eyes. Looking at her, Foma thought:
“What is she driving at?”
And he answered her slowly:
“Perhaps I will have a desire for something else. Perhaps I have it already.”
Drawing up closer to him, she looked into his face and spoke convincingly:
“Listen! Do not live like all other people! Arrange your life somehow differently. You are strong, young. You are good!”
“And if I am good then there must be good for me!” exclaimed Foma, feeling that he was seized with agitation, and that his heart was beginning to beat with anxiety.
“Ah, but that is not the case! Here on earth it is worse for the good people than for the bad ones!” said Medinskaya, sadly.
And again the trembling notes of music began to dance at the touch of her fingers. Foma felt that if he did not start to say at once what was necessary, he would tell her nothing later.
“God bless me!” he said to himself, and in a lowered voice, strengthening his heart, began: