. And he is an ungentlemanly visitor and caused all the scandal. ‘I will show you up,’ he said, ‘for I can write to all the papers about you.’ ”

“Then he was an author?”

“Yes, Mr. Captain, and what an ungentlemanly visitor in an honourable house.⁠ ⁠…”

“Now then! Enough! I have told you already⁠ ⁠…”

“Ilya Petrovitch!” the head clerk repeated significantly.

The assistant glanced rapidly at him; the head clerk slightly shook his head.