In the corner stood a lantern and a big umbrella.
"Owing to the excessive rain the mud in the streets is beyond anything," Alexey Yegorytch announced, making a final effort to deter his master from the expedition.

But opening his umbrella the latter went without a word into the damp and sodden garden, which was dark as a cellar.

The wind was roaring and tossing the bare tree-tops.

The little sandy paths were wet and slippery.

Alexey Yegorytch walked along as he was, bareheaded, in his swallow-tail coat, lighting up the path for about three steps before them with the lantern.
"Won't it be noticed ?" Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch asked suddenly.
"Not from the windows.