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The Headmaster said sharply and excitedly: "Your school if this awful, impossible establishment can be called a school will be closed at once. I will make the application to the District to-day." Trirodov replied sharply: "That you can do." Soon the visitors left in an ugly frame of mind. Doulebova hissed and waxed indignant the whole way back. "He's clearly a dangerous man," observed Kerbakh.
She asked timidly: "Whom do you mean, Zinaida Grigorievna?" "Whom else could I mean but Mr. Trirodov," replied Doulebova malignantly. The malice was all on Trirodov's account, but nevertheless Poterina trembled with fear. "Ah, yes, Trirodov; how then, how then...." she repeated in a worried, flustered way, and was at a loss what to say.
He accepted bribes, beat his pupils, drank considerably and he always got off easily. Zinaida Grigorievna Doulebova examined the graduating classes in French and English. These studies were optional. Inspector Poterin's wife gave instruction in French. She had not yet fully mastered the Berlitz method, and looked at the Doulebovs cringingly.
Doulebov and Shabalov looked them over there and then. They tried to find mistakes, but there were few. Then dictation was given. Doulebova looked morosely the whole while and blinked often. Trirodov tried to enter into conversation with her, but the angry dame answered so haughtily that it was with great difficulty he refrained from smiling, and finally he left the malicious woman to herself.
Doulebov asked with a frown: "Surely they are not always like that?" "Always, Vladimir Grigorievitch," replied Trirodov. "They have got used to it." "But it is indecent!" said Madame Doulebova. "It is the one thing that is decent," retorted Trirodov. The windows of the house in the small glade were wide open. The twitter of birds was audible and the fresh, delicious aroma of flowers entered in.
He occupied himself with attentions to Zinaida Grigorievna Doulebova, to whom he showed various services with an unexpected and rather vulgar amiableness. The instructor-inspector, Mikhail Prokopievitch Poterin, conducted himself like a lackey. It was even evident at times that he trembled before the Doulebovs. What reason had he to be afraid? He was a great patriot a member of the Black Hundred.
The visitors entered and found themselves in a small glade. Three barefoot girls slowly came to meet them. These were instructresses. Nadezhda Vestchezerova looked with her large dark eyes at Madame Doulebova, who whispered to the Vice-Governor: "Have a look at her. This girl had a scandal in her life, but he's taken her on."
Evidently no one awaited the visitors or had arranged to meet them. Finally they reached the gates of the enclosure. They looked around. It was very quiet. No one was visible anywhere. Shabalov jumped out of his trap and began to look for the bell. Madame Doulebova said in great irritation: "What do you think of that?" They tried to open the small gate by themselves but were unable.
Doulebova knew every one in town, and she knew especially well those who have had an unpleasant experience of some sort. Presently Trirodov appeared in a white summer suit. He looked with an ironic smile at the gaily dressed party of visitors. The visitors were met with courtesy; but the Headmaster was displeased because no honour was shown them and no special preparations were evident.
Doulebova sat at the head of the table, between the Vice-Governor and Zherbenev; Doulebov sat next to the Vice-Governor. A pie was brought in; then tea. Zinaida Grigorievna abused the instructors' wives and the instructresses. She loved gossip indeed, who does not? The instructors' wives gossiped to her.
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