“I shan’t be caught so easily. Look, someone has just leaped over the fence, like us. Hi! Stop! Don’t try to hide. Who’s there? Halt! Raisky, come and help me!”
He ran forward a few paces, and seized someone.
Raisky hurried to the point from which voices were audible, remarking, “What cat’s eyes you have!” The man who was held fast by Mark’s strong arms twisted round to free himself, and in the end fell to the ground and made for the fence.
“Catch him, hold fast! There is another sneaking round in the vegetable garden,” cried Raisky.
Raisky saw dimly a figure about to spring down from the fence, and demanded who it was.
“Sir, let me go, do not ruin me!” whispered a woman’s voice.
“Is it you, Marina, what are you doing here?
“Gently, Sir. Don’t call me by name. Savili will hear, and will beat me.”
“Off with you! No, stop. I have found you at the right moment. Can you bring some supper to my room?”
“Anything, Sir. Only, for God’s sake, don’t betray me.”
“I won’t betray you. Tell me what there is in the kitchen.”
“The whole supper is there. As you did not come, no one ate anything. There is sturgeon in jelly, turkey, all on ice.”
“There is a bottle in the sideboard, and the fruit liqueurs are in Marfa Vassilievna’s room.”
“She sleeps soundly. Let me go now, Sir, for my husband may hear us.”
“Run, but take care you don’t run into him.”
“He dare not do anything if he does meet me now. I shall tell him that you have given me orders....”
Meanwhile, Mark had dragged his man from hiding. “Savili Ilivich,” the unknown murmured, “don’t strike me.”
“I ought to know the voice,” said Raisky.
“Ah! You are not Savili Ilivich, thank God. I Sir, I am the gardener from over there.”
“I came on a real errand, Sir. Our clock has stopped, and I came here to wait for the church-clock to strike.”
“Devil take you,” cried Mark, and gave the man a push that sent him reeling.
The man sprang over the ditch, and vanished in the darkness.
Raisky, meantime, returned to the main entrance. He tried to open the door, not wishing to knock for fear of awaking his aunt. “Marina,” he called in a low voice, “Marina, open!”
The bolt was pushed back. Raisky pushed open the door with his foot. Before him stood--he recognised the voice--Savili, who flung himself upon him and held him.