"And you've not been here either ?" "Not since the day before yesterday," said he.

"And where did you sleep last night ?" "In Peski, with the Kolomensky men." "And where did you get those ear-rings ?" I asked.

"I found them in the street," and the way he said it was a bit queer; he did not look at me.

"Did you hear what happened that very evening, at that very hour, on that same staircase ?" said I.
"No," said he, "I had not heard," and all the while he was listening, his eyes were staring out of his head and he turned as white as chalk.

I told him all about it and he took his hat and began getting up.