about to speak when Peter Gerasimovitch, irritated by the

authoritative manner of the foreman, began to raise his

objections and said the very things Nekhludoff was about to say.

"Allow me one moment," he said. "You seem to think that her

having the key proves she is guilty of the theft; but what could

be easier than for the servants to open the portmanteau with a

"Of course, of course," said the merchant.

"She could not have taken the money, because in her position she