Kirilov stood in silence.  When Abogin uttered a few more phrases concerning the noble calling of a doctor, self-sacrifice, and so on, the doctor asked sullenly:  “Is it far?”

“Something like eight or nine miles.  I have capital horses, doctor!  I give you my word of honour that I will get you there and back in an hour.  Only one hour.”

These words had more effect on Kirilov than the appeals to humanity or the noble calling of the doctor.  He thought a moment and said with a sigh:  “Very well, let us go!”

He went rapidly with a more certain step to his study, and afterwards came back in a long frock-coat.  Abogin, greatly relieved, fidgeted round him and scraped with his feet as he helped him on with his overcoat, and went out of the house with him.

It was dark out of doors, though lighter than in the entry.  The tall, stooping figure of the doctor, with his long, narrow beard and aquiline nose, stood out distinctly in the darkness.  Abogin’s big head and the little student’s cap that barely covered it could be seen now as well as his pale face.  The scarf showed white only in front, behind it was hidden by his long hair.

“Believe me, I know how to appreciate your generosity,” Abogin muttered as he helped the doctor into the carriage.  “We shall get there quickly.  Drive as fast as you can, Luka, there’s a good fellow!  Please!”

The coachman drove rapidly.  At first there was a row of indistinct buildings that stretched alongside the hospital yard; it was dark everywhere except for a bright light from a window that gleamed through the fence into the furthest part of the yard while three windows of the upper storey of the hospital looked paler than the surrounding air.  Then the carriage drove into dense shadow; here there was the smell of dampness and mushrooms, and the sound of rustling trees; the crows, awakened by the noise of the wheels, stirred among the foliage and uttered prolonged plaintive cries as though they knew the doctor’s son was dead and that Abogin’s wife was ill.  Then came glimpses of separate trees, of bushes; a pond, on which great black shadows were slumbering, gleamed with a sullen light—­and the carriage rolled over a smooth level ground.  The clamour of the crows sounded dimly far away and soon ceased altogether.

Kirilov and Abogin were silent almost all the way.  Only once Abogin heaved a deep sigh and muttered: 

“It’s an agonizing state!  One never loves those who are near one so much as when one is in danger of losing them.”

And when the carriage slowly drove over the river, Kirilov started all at once as though the splash of the water had frightened him, and made a movement.

“Listen—­let me go,” he said miserably.  “I’ll come to you later.  I must just send my assistant to my wife.  She is alone, you know!”