What I can't understand is how Shatov goes on living above him.

Alexey Nilitch has only been three days with them.

They were acquainted in Petersburg, and now he's taken the lodge to get away from the disturbance." "Is this all true ?" said Stepan Trofimovitch, addressing the engineer.
"You do gossip a lot, Liputin," the latter muttered wrathfully.
"Mysteries, secrets! Where have all these mysteries and secrets among us sprung from ?" Stepan Trofimovitch could not refrain from exclaiming.
The engineer frowned, flushed red, shrugged his shoulders and went out of the room.
"Alexey Nilitch positively snatched the whip out of his hand, broke it and threw it out of the window, and they had a violent quarrel," added Liputin.
"Why are you chattering, Liputin; it's stupid.

What for ?" Alexey Nilitch turned again instantly.
"Why be so modest and conceal the generous impulses of one's soul; that is, of your soul?
I'm not speaking of my own." "How stupid it is...

and quite unnecessary.