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As for Doulebov and his wife, they were fully alive to their importance. They had received only two or three days before definite news of the appointment of Doulebov as assistant to the head of the Educational Department. Inspector Shabalov arrived at the school very early that day.
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 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.
The circle discussed various questions of upbringing, instruction, and school affairs generally which interested in those years many teachers and parents. Some of the members read their reports here. It was particularly provoking to Shabalov that these reports occasionally recounted certain episodes in school life and eccentricities of the educational authorities.
It depends upon which place a man is used to there he is better off." Doulebova laughed viperously. Shabalov said in a preceptorial manner: "The orthodox matushka Russia! Is it possible to compare any kingdom with ours? Have you heard how our native land is called? Holy Russia, Mother Russia, the holy Russian soil. And you are an idiot, blockhead, a little swine.
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.
"Why is it necessary?" asked Trirodov. Shabalov laughed his creaking "he-he" laugh and said: "Well, it's necessary. We'll give them certificates." "What's the use of your certificates to them?" asked Trirodov. "They need knowledge and not certificates. Your certificates won't feed their hunger." "The certificates are necessary for military service," explained Shabalov.
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.
He wiped his face with his hand like a cat using its paw and changed the subject. They began touching recollections about the good old times. They began to relate how, where, and whom they birched. "They birch even now," said Shabalov with a quiet joy. After luncheon they went into the assembly room. Some of them began to smoke.
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.
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