"You damned sorceress! You are trying to provoke me.... I'll kill you, you witch!"
The blow was so violent that she fell face forwards on the table. But she quickly recovered herself, and facing her husband with a look of hatred and defiance in her eyes, she cried out in a loud voice—Go on beating me!"
"Hush! Be quiet!"
"Why don't you go on beating me, I say!"
"Oh, you devil!"
"No, Grigori, I won't stand this sort of thing any longer!"
"Hush! I say!"
"I won't be ill-treated by you any more!"
He ground his teeth, and took a step backwards, perhaps with the intention of striking her with greater force.... But at this moment the door opened suddenly, and Doctor Wasschtschenko appeared on the scene.
"What's going on here? Do you forget where you are? What sort of business is this?"