Demons

Everyone in the room discusses what just occurred. Pyotr breaks in and says that he can explain the whole situation and really there’s nothing much to it. Varvara asks Pyotr if he thinks it would be okay to tell the story without Nikolay present, and Pyotr says Nikolay would want it that way. Anton finds it strange that someone would be so comfortable telling other people’s stories without the other person present. Pyotr then begins to explain how Nikolay became involved with Lebyadkin and Marya. 

Nikolay first met Marya and Lebyadkin five years ago in Petersburg. At that point, Nikolay was dejected and found little purpose in life. Lebyadkin roved the city drinking and looking to stay in other people’s lodgings. Marya worked as a charwoman and earned barely enough to get by. People began to bully and mistreat Marya due to her physical handicap and her eccentric disposition. Once, a store clerk was berating Marya, and Nikolay intervened. After that, Nikolay began to treat Marya with kindness and respect.

Aleksey, who was in Petersburg at the time and was friends with Nikolay, told Nikolay that he shouldn’t play games with Marya. Nikolay told Aleksey that he in fact respected Marya greatly and thought she was better than the lot of them combined. Still, Nikolay barely said more than two words to Marya. Despite that, Marya got it into her head that Nikolay was her fiancé, and that the only reason they didn’t elope was because of obstacles resulting from Nikolay’s family and his enemies. The situation ended when Nikolay left for home. When he left, he made arrangements to provide Marya with a 300-rouble annual allowance. Lebyadkin has now used that allowance, Pyotr says, to make up rumors about Nikolay. 

Varvara is relieved after hearing Pyotr’s account of the events in Petersburg. She thinks that Nikolay’s treatment of Marya is evidence of his lofty soul. Pyotr then says that when Nikolay left Petersburg four years ago, Marya was living in a convent. After Nikolay left, Lebyadkin tracked her down and took her out of the convent. Now, Lebyadkin doesn’t feed Marya and beats her mercilessly. He also takes the money Nikolay sends and uses it to buy alcohol for himself.

Lebyadkin also treats the money Nikolay gives as a gift to Marya as something that is owed to him (Lebyadkin). Lebyadkin objects to Pyotr’s statements, and Pyotr asks him if what he said is untrue. Lebyadkin says Pyotr knows why he (Lebyadkin) can’t respond and mentions “family honor.” Pyotr says he has no idea what Lebyadkin is talking about and asks again if what he (Pyotr) has said is untrue. Lebyadkin says it’s not and that all of it is true. He then asks to leave. As he leaves, Nikolay returns from taking Marya home.