"I don't care—fetch them!" said Ilya.
Tatiana went by him, tottering, walking as if asleep, without looking at him.
"She's had enough," said Lunev with a scornful nod at her, "but she deserves it, the snake."
"Shut up!" cried Avtonomov from his corner; he was on his knees fumbling in a box.
"Don't shout, good stupid fellow," answered Ilya, sitting down and crossing his arms, "Why do you shout? I've lived with you, I know you—I killed a man too—Poluektov the merchant. I've spoken of it with you ever so many times, do you remember? I did it because it was I who strangled him—and his money is in our business—by God!"
Ilya looked round the room. Terrified and trembling the guests stood round the walls in silence. He felt that he had said his say, that a yawning, melancholy emptiness was growing in his breast, from which echoed the cold inquiry:
"What now?" and he said, listening to the ring of his own words:
"Perhaps you think I'm sorry, that I'm making amends here before you all? Ha! ha! you can wait for that. I rejoice over you—do you understand?"
Kirik sprang from his corner, dishevelled and red; he brandished a revolver, and rolled his eyes and shouted:
"Now you shan't escape! Aha! you have murdered, too, have you?"