He gradually became greatly attached to me; I could not help perceiving this, as I had, also, become thoroughly used to him.

But one day--I shall never forgive myself for it--he did not comply with some request of mine, although he had just received money from me, and I had the cruelty to say to him, 'Here you are taking my money, Sushiloff, but you don't do your duty.' Sushiloff made no reply, but seemed suddenly to grow melancholy.

Two days elapsed.

I said to myself, it cannot be the result of my words.

I knew that a certain prisoner, Anton Vasilieff, was urgently dunning him for a petty debt.