IV + 

But obviously an evil destiny was flinging itself upon Saranin. + 

On the door of the lodging where the Armenian lived, there hung a lock. In desperation Saranin seized the bell. A wild hope inspirited him. He rang desperately. + 

Behind the door the bell tinkled loudly, distinctly, clearly, with that inexorable clearness peculiar to the ringing of bells in empty lodgings. + 

Saranin ran to the house-porter. He was pallid. Small drops of sweat, exceedingly small, like dew on a cold stone, broke out on his face and specially on his nose. + 

He dashed hastily into the porter’s lodge and cried: + 

“Where is Khalatyantz?” + 

The porter in charge, a listless, black-bearded bumpkin, was drinking tea from a saucer. He eyed Saranin askance. He asked with unruffled calm: + 

“And what do you want of him?” + 

Saranin looked blankly at the porter and did not know what to say. + 

“If you’ve got any business with him,” said the porter, looking at Saranin suspiciously, “then, sir, you had better go away. For as he’s an Armenian, keep out of the way of the police.” + 

“Yes, but where is the cursed Armenian?” cried Saranin, in desperation. “From number 43?” + 

“There is no Armenian,” replied the porter. “There was, it’s true, I won’t deny it, but there isn’t now.” + 

“Where is he, then?” + 

“He’s gone away.” + 

“Where to?” shouted Saranin. + 

“Who can say?” replied the porter, placidly. “He got a foreign passport and went abroad.” + 

Saranin turned pale. + 

“Understand,” he said in a trembling voice, “I must get hold of him, come what may.” + 

He burst out crying. + 

The porter looked at him sympathetically. He said: + 

“Why, don’t upset yourself, sir. If you do want the cursed Armenian so badly, why then, take a trip abroad yourself, go to the registration office there, and you’ll find him by the address.” + 

Saranin did not consider the absurdity of what the porter said. He became cheerful. + 

He at once rushed home, flew like a hurricane into the local office, and requested the man in charge to make him out a foreign passport without delay. But suddenly he remembered: + 

“But where am I to go?” + 