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He and his subordinate, the Inspector, showered official papers upon Trirodov and demanded various reports in the established form, so that Trirodov had to prevail upon a small official of the Exchequer to come evenings and copy out all this absurd nonsense. But neither Doulebov nor Shabalov looked in even once into Trirodov's school.
Doulebov, with a patronizing amiableness, said again to him: "You have a good school. Everything is in exemplary order." Poterin grew radiant and boasted: "Yes, I know how to pull them up. I treat them sternly." "A salutary sternness," said Doulebov. Encouraged by these words, the instructor-inspector asked: "Do you think one might also beat them?" Doulebov avoided a direct answer.
The Doulebovs tried all sorts of pinpricks and coarse insinuations; their companions followed suit. Every one tried to outdo the other in saying caustic, spiteful things. Doulebov looked with simulated horror at Trirodov's instructresses who happened to be present, and whispered to Kerbakh: "Their feet are soiled with earth." After luncheon they returned to the school.
Doulebov wiped his face with his right hand like a cat licking its paw and piped out: "I hear that the Marquis Teliatnikov is to pay us a visit soon." "We are not within his jurisdiction," said Poterin. But his whole face became distorted with apprehension. "All the same," said Doulebov in his thin voice, "he possesses great powers. He can do what he likes."
And in the whole course of his twenty-five years' service, beginning as a gymnasia instructor, Doulebov uninterruptedly and skilfully concerned himself with establishing improved relations with all who were higher in rank than he or equal with him.
The instructresses were dressed as simply as always. Doulebov was especially displeased because both the instructresses and their pupils walked about barefoot. The naivete of the children irritated the visitors. The children looked at the party indifferently. Some of them nodded a greeting, others did not. "Take off your cap!" shouted Shabalov.
The Vice-Governor arrived rather late, at eleven, together with Zherbenev, who was an honorary overseer of the school. There was a very tense feeling in the school. The instructors and the students alike trembled before the authorities. Stupid and vulgar scenes with the Headmaster in the town school were common with Doulebov and did not embarrass him.
Doulebov said: "I know he is very stupid and undeveloped, but zealous. If directed properly he can be very useful." Next morning the Headmaster of the National Schools, accompanied by the Vice-Governor and Shabalov, started in their carriages from the Headmaster's offices and drove off to Trirodov's school in the Prosianiya Meadows. They had not yet fully recovered from the previous day's carouse.
But Doulebov did not wish to invite the Vice-Governor direct to Trirodov's school, so as to give no one any reason for saying that he did it on purpose. That was why he persuaded the Vice-Governor to come to the examination at the town school on the eve of the day appointed for the examinations at the Trirodov school. The town school was situated in one of the dirty side streets.
Some one made the observation that Trirodov was friends with dangerous sects, at which Kerbakh remarked: "He now has horses and carriages, but I know a man who knew him when he had only his shirt. It is rather suspicious as to where he got his money." Glafira Pavlovna looked at Shabalov and whispered to Doulebov: "I know he is a patriot, but he has terrible manners."
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