m the Secret Police by telegram
at once, me alone, but the rest may answer for it. Put a candle every
evening at seven o'clock in the porter's window for a signal. Seeing it,
I shall believe and come to kiss the merciful hand from Petersburg. But
on condition there's a pension for me, for else how am I to live? You
won't regret it for it will mean a star for you. You must go secretly
or they'll wring your neck. Your excellency's desperate servant falls at
your feet.

"Repentant free-thinker incognito."

Von Lembke explained that the letter had made its appearance in the
porter's room when it was left empty the day before.

"So what do you think?" Pyotr Stepanovitch asked almost rudely.

"I think it's an anonymous skit by way of a hoax."

"Most likely it is. There's no taking you in."

"What makes me think that is that it's so stupid."

"Have you received such documents here before?"

"Once or twice, anonymous letters."

"Oh, of course they wouldn't be signed. In a different style? In
different handwritings?"

"Yes."

"And were they buffoonery like this one?"

"Yes, and you know... very disgusting."

"Well, if you had them before, it must be the same thing now."

"Especially because it's so stupid. Because these people are educated
and wouldn't write so stupidly."

"Of course, of course."

"But what if this is some one who really wants to turn informer?"

"It's not very likely," Pyotr Stepanovitch rapped out dryly. "What
does he mean by a telegram from the Secret Police and a pension? It's
obviously a hoax."

"Yes, yes," Lembke admitted, abashed.

"I tell you what: you leave this with me. I can certainly find out for
you before I track out the others."

"Take it," Lembke assented, though with some hesitation.

"Have you shown it to anyone?"

"Is it likely! No."

"Not to Yulia Mihailovna?"

"Oh, Heaven forbid! And for God's sake don't you show it her!" Lembke
cried in alarm. "She'll be so upset... and will be dreadfully angry with
me."

"Yes, you'll be the first to catch it; she'd say you brought it on
yourself if people write like that to you. I know what women's logic is.
Well, good-bye. I dare say I shall bring you the writer in a couple of
days or so. Above all, our compact!"

IV

Though Pyotr Stepanovitch was perhaps far from being a stupid man, Fedka
the convict had said of him truly "that he would make up a man himself
and go on living with him too." He came away from Lembke