"Savelyev! give him a kick and let him go, he's quite mad."
The official looked at Kirik, thought a moment, and answered: "Can't now, information's been laid before me, my assistant knows."
"A—ah! sighed Avtonomov.
"You're a good fellow, Kirik Nikodimovitch," said Ilya and nodded. "There are dogs like that, you beat them and they fawn on you, but perhaps you're afraid I shall speak of your wife in court? Don't be afraid, that won't happen! I'm ashamed to think of her, much less speak of her."
Avtonomov went quickly into the next room, and sat down noisily on a chair.
"Now," began the inspector, turning to Ilya, "can you sign this?"
"Yes, I will."
He took the pen and signed without reading, in big letters, Ilya Lunev. When he raised his head, he noticed that the inspector was gazing at him with astonishment. They looked at one another silently for a moment or two, one with curiosity and a certain pleasure, the other indifferently and quietly.
"Your conscience would not be still?" asked the inspector half aloud.
"There's no such thing," answered Ilya firmly.