I knew them, and I felt suspicious about the ear-rings at once, for I knew the murdered woman lent money on pledges.

I went to the house, and began to make careful inquiries without saying a word to anyone.

First of all I asked, "Is Nikolay here ?" Dmitri told me that Nikolay had gone off on the spree; he had come home at daybreak drunk, stayed in the house about ten minutes, and went out again.

Dmitri didn't see him again and is finishing the job alone.

And their job is on the same staircase as the murder, on the second floor.