Gavrila walked in front, holding his cap on with his hand, though there
was no wind. The footmen and cooks were close behind him; Uncle Tail was
looking out of a window, giving instructions, that is to say, simply
waving his hands. At the rear there was a crowd of small boys skipping
and hopping along; half of them were outsiders who had run up. On the
narrow staircase leading to the garret sat one guard; at the door were
standing two more with sticks. They began to mount the stairs, which
they entirely blocked up. Gavrila went up to the door, knocked with his
fist, shouting, "Open the door!"
A stifled bark was audible, but there was no answer.
"Open the door, I tell you," he repeated.
"But, Gavrila Andreitch," Stepan observed from below, "he's deaf, you
know--he doesn't hear."
They all laughed.
"What are we to do?" Gavrila rejoined from above.
"Why, there's a hole there in the door," answered Stepan, "so you shake
the stick in there."
Gavrila bent down.
"He's stuffed it up with a coat or something."
"Well, you just push the coat in."
At this moment a smothered bark was heard again.
"See, see--she speaks for herself," was remarked in the crowd, and again
they laughed.
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