“But how⁠ ⁠… you are not living with your wife?”

“I’ll break your skull for questions like that.”

“Oh dear, I understand, forgive me, I was struck all of a heap.⁠ ⁠… But I understand, I understand⁠ ⁠… is Arina Prohorovna really coming? You said just now that she had gone? You know, that’s not true. You see, you see, you see what lies you tell at every step.”

“By now, she must be with my wife⁠ ⁠… don’t keep me⁠ ⁠… it’s not my fault you are a fool.”

“That’s a lie, I am not a fool. Excuse me, I really can’t⁠ ⁠…”

And utterly distraught he began shutting the casement again for the third time, but Shatov gave such a yell that he put his head out again.

“But this is simply an unprovoked assault! What do you want of me, what is it, what is it, formulate it? And think, only think, it’s the middle of the night!”