did not ask who was knocking, and merely propped his head on his hand. Seeing that this no longer acted, after an interval I pretended to wake up and, looking at Tyeglev, assumed an air of astonishment. "Have you been out?" I asked. "Yes," he answered unconcernedly. "Did you still hear the knocking?" "Yes." "And you met no one?" "No." "And did the knocking stop?" "I don't know. I don't care now." "Now? Why now?" Tyeglev did not answer. I felt a little ashamed and a little vexed with him. I could not bring myself to acknowledge my prank, however. "Do you know what?" I began, "I am convinced that it was all your imagination." Tyeglev frowned. "Ah, you think so!" "You say you heard a knocking?" "It was not only knocking I heard." "Why, what else?" Tyeglev bent forward and bit his lips. He was evidently hesitating. "I was called!" he brought out at last in a low voice and turned away his face.