Chapter IV. The Last Resolution

In the morning, Pyotr Stepanovitch circulates among townspeople, slandering Yulia Mihailovna and downplaying Stavrogin’s link to the Lebyadkin murders. News arrives that Stavrogin has abruptly left for Petersburg, startling Pyotr. He later forces his way to Yulia, likely intimidating her into silence to protect his plans.

At dusk, Pyotr convenes his quintet at Ensign Erkel’s lodgings. The members, alarmed by the fire, the Lebyadkin murders, and Liza’s beating, challenge Pyotr’s secrecy and control. Pyotr counters by blaming them for inciting the arson, reveals Lebyadkin’s denunciatory letter, and then declares an imminent betrayal: Shatov will inform. He proposes luring Shatov to the buried press and killing him, while using Kirillov’s promised suicide and letter to absorb blame and even mention the fire and manifestoes.

Despite doubts, the group yields after Pyotr threatens dissolution and reprisals. He assigns roles for the next day and orders Liputin to print a radical manifesto on Shatov’s press. Liputin protests but is overruled. Pyotr then drags Liputin to Kirillov via a secret fence gap, confirming Kirillov’s intent to die on their signal and to sign whatever note they dictate.

Inside Kirillov’s, tensions spike: Kirillov scorns Pyotr yet reaffirms his resolve. Pyotr discovers Fedka in the kitchen, ready to flee and denouncing Pyotr as a scoundrel. When Pyotr draws a revolver, Fedka savagely strikes him, floors him, and escapes. Recovering, Pyotr threatens Kirillov at gunpoint, then storms out, telling Liputin ominously it was Fedka’s last drink.

The next morning, Fedka is found murdered near the road, reportedly after a quarrel with an accomplice over Lebyadkin’s money. The coincidence with Pyotr’s threat breaks Liputin’s nerve. Abandoning thoughts of flight, he shows up first for the planned operation against Shatov.