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"And I wouldn't give more than one for you. No more of your

jokes! Zametov is no more than a boy. I can pull his hair and one

must draw him not repel him. You'll never improve a man by

repelling him, especially a boy. One has to be twice as careful

with a boy. Oh, you progressive dullards! You don't understand.

You harm yourselves running another man down.... But if you want

to know, we really have something in common."

"I should like to know what."

"Why, it's all about a house-painter.... We are getting him out

of a mess! Though indeed there's nothing to fear now. The matter

is absolutely self-evident. We only put on steam."

"A painter?"

"Why, haven't I told you about it? I only told you the beginning

then about the murder of the old pawnbroker-woman. Well, the

painter is mixed up in it..."

"Oh, I heard about that murder before and was rather interested

in it... partly... for one reason.... I read about it in the

papers, too...."