Summary

In Chapter 4, Egorushka wonders about who Varlamov might be and why he is so sought after. He reflects on what he remembers about the countess. She has a grand estate and holds a ball twice a year. Kuzmichov remarks that a man called Kazimir Mikhailych makes an excellent commission on the sales he arranges for her, robbing the dear woman blind. Egorushka continues to daydream about the countess and Varlamov, for lack of other distractions.

They ride for several hours in the night before coming across a train of approximately twenty wagons joined together. Kuzmichov greets an elderly man called Pantelei and asks after Varlamov. Before bidding them goodbye, Kuzmichov drops Egorushka into Pantelei's wagon, claiming that they are off to the Molokan's but will catch up with them soon enough. Egorushka falls asleep. When he wakes up, he is struck by the...