“IexpectPetrushkaisasleep，forprobablyhehastakentoomuchliquorattheBassanov’ssmotrini。[Afestivalatwhichafiancepayshisfirstvisittothehouseoftheparentsofhisbetrothed。]Aye，hewillbeasleep。AndasforJonah，HEwillhavegonetoVaskaKlochi。Sotonight，untilmorning，Nadezhdawillbeabletokickupherheelstoherheart’scontent。“
Itoohadbeguntosurmisethatthewomanwascomethitherforpurposesofherown。Yetthescenewasalmostdreamlikeinitsbeauty。Itthrilledmetothesoultowatchhowthewoman’sblueeyesgazedabouther——gazedasthoughshewereardently，caressinglywhisperingtoalllivingcreatures，asleeporawake:
“0hmydarlings！0hmydarlings！“
Besidemetheuncouth，broken-downGubinwentoninhoarseaccents:
“YoumustknowthatsheisPetrushka’sTHIRDwife，awomanwhomhetooktohimselffromthefamilyofamerchantofMurom。YetthetownhasitthatnotonlyPetrushka，butalsoJonah，makesuseofher——thatsheactsaswifetobothbrothers，andthereforelackschildren。AlsohasitbeensaidofherthatoneTrinitySundayshewasseenbyapartyofwomentomisconductherselfinthisgardenwithapolicesergeant，andthentositonhislapandweep。YetthislastIdonotwhollybelieve，forthesergeantinquestionisaveteranscarcelyabletoputonefootbeforetheother。Also，Jonah，thoughabrute，livesinabjectfearofhisstepmother。“