But now all this must be put a stop to." "The best thing to do," said Marya Timofyevna, popping up from her chair, "is to send him to the footmen's room when he comes.

Let him sit on the benches there and play cards with them while we sit here and drink coffee.

We might send him a cup of coffee too, but I have a great contempt for him." And she wagged her head expressively.
"We must put a stop to this," Varvara Petrovna repeated, listening attentively to Marya Timofyevna.

"Ring, Stepan Trofimovitch, I beg you." Stepan Trofimovitch rang, and suddenly stepped forward, all excitement.
"If...

if..." he faltered feverishly, flushing, breaking off and stuttering, "if I too have heard the most revolting story, or rather slander, it was with utter indignation..._enfin c'est un homme perdu, et quelque chose comme un forcat evade...._" He broke down and could not go on.