Demons

Pyotr tells Nikolay that Lebyadkin, Marya, and a servant have been killed. He says that because of the confluence of events, he and Nikolay won’t be suspected of the murder. Instead, Lebyadkin had been waving his money around earlier in the day, which led Fedka to try and steal it when he started the fire with the three factory workers. Pyotr says that even though people in town are saying Nikolay had Marya killed so he could marry Liza, he (Nikolay) is clear from a legal perspective. He says Nikolay should be clear morally too, as he didn’t want the murder to happen. Pyotr says that now that Marya is dead, Nikolay is free to marry Liza. Pyotr also says that Mavriky is outside and appears to have stood there for the entire night, waiting for Liza.

Nikolay accuses Pyotr of killing Marya. Pyotr denies any involvement. When they return to Liza, she asks what they were discussing. Nikolay says that his wife, her brother, and a servant have been murdered. Pyotr adds that Nikolay is not at fault. Liza asks if that’s true. Nikolay says that it’s not and that while he didn’t want the murder to occur, he knew that it would, and he didn’t stop the killers. Liza is horrified. She runs out of the house. Pyotr turns to Nikolay and asks him if he intends to inform on everyone. He pulls out a revolver. Nikolay tells Pyotr to go ahead and kill him. Pyotr says it wouldn’t make a difference, since Nikolay is asking for the bullet. The two then part ways.