gasping for breath. 'You dare... at the very minute when I've caught
you... when you came to meet Misha... eh? eh? eh?'

But I could not stop myself.... Something relentless, desperate was
roused up within me.

'And you, you, the brother... of your brother, you had the insolence,
you dared... What did you take me for? Can you be so blind as not to
have seen long ago the loathing you arouse in me?... You dare use the
word offer!... Let me out at once, this instant!'

I moved towards the door.

'Oh, indeed! oh, oh! so this is what she says!' Semyon Matveitch piped
shrilly, in a fit of violent fury, but obviously not able to make up his
mind to come near me.... 'Wait a bit, Mr. Ratsch, Ivan Demianitch, come
here!'

The door of the billiard-room opposite the one I was near flew wide
open, and my stepfather appeared, with a lighted candelabrum in each
hand. His round, red face, lighted up on both sides, was beaming with
the triumph of satisfied revenge, and slavish delight at having rendered
valuable service.... Oh, those loathsome white eyes! when shall I cease
to behold them?

'Be so good as to take this girl at once,' cried Semyon Matveitch,
turning to my stepfather and imperiously pointing to me with a shaking
hand. 'Be so good as to take her home and put her under lock and key...
so that she... can't stir a finger, so that not a fly can get in to her!
Till further orders from me! Board up the windows if need be! You'll