On the tenth day he was again set before the man in the blue glasses. The man who had brought him there the first time was also present.
"Not very pleasant, eh, Klimkov?" the dark man asked, smacking his thick red lower lip. His high voice made an odd splashing sound as if he were laughing inside himself. The reflection of the electric light upon the blue glass of his spectacles sent strong rays into Yevsey's empty breast, and filled him with slavish readiness to do everything necessary to end these slimy days which sank into darkness and threatened madness.
"Yes, I will, and more besides. I will take you into the service. Now you will yourself put people into the place from which you have just been taken--into the same place and into other cosy little rooms." He laughed, smacking his lip. Klimkov bowed. "The late Lukin interceded for you; and in memory of his honest service I will give you a position. You will receive twenty-five rubles a month to begin with."
His words entered Yevsey's breast and memory, and disposed themselves in a row, as if a commanding hand had written them there. He bowed again.
"This man, Piotr Petrovich, will be your chief and teacher. You must do everything he tells you. Do you understand?" He turned to the other man. "So it's decided--he will live with you."
"Very well," came the response with unexpected loudness. "That will be more convenient for me."
The dark man turning again to Yevsey began to speak to him in a softened voice, telling him something soothing and promising. Yevsey tried to take in his words, and followed the heavy movement of the red lip under the mustache without winking.
"Remember, you will now guard the sacred person of the Czar from attempts upon his life and upon his sacred power. You understand?"
"I thank you humbly," said Yevsey quietly.
Piotr Petrovich pushed his hat up on his forehead.
"I will explain everything to him," he interjected hastily. "It is time for me to go."
"Go, go. Well, Klimkov, off with you. Serve well, brother, and you will be satisfied. You will be happy. All the same don't forget that you took part in the murder of the secondhand book-dealer Raspopov. You confessed to it yourself, and I took your testimony down in writing. Do you understand? Well, so long."