Sanine

"Oh! I'm just vegetating," said Sarudine with a mournful sigh.

Volochine was silent, and looked up disdainfully at the ceiling where

the green reflections from the garden wavered.

"Our one and only amusement is this," continued Sarudine, as with a

gesture he indicated the cards, the bottles, and his guests.

"Yes, yes!" drawled Volochine; to Sarudine his tone seemed to say, "and

you're no better, either."

"I think I must be going now. I'm staying at the hotel on the

boulevard. I may see you again!" Volochine rose to take his leave.

At this moment the orderly entered and saluting in slovenly fashion,

said, "The young lady is there, sir."

Sarudine started. "What?" he cried.

"She has come, sir."

"Ah I yes, I know," said Sarudine. He glanced about him nervously,

feeling a sudden presentiment.

"I wonder if it's Lida?" he thought. "Impossible!"

Volochine's inquisitive eyes twinkled. His puny little body in its

loose white clothes seemed to acquire new vitality.

"Well, good-bye!" he said, laughing. "Up to your old tricks, as usual!

Ha! Ha!"

Sarudine smiled uneasily, as he accompanied his visitor to the door,

and with a parting stare the latter in his immaculate shoes hurried

off.

"Now, sirs," said Sarudine, on his return, "how's the game going? Take

the bank for me, will you, Tanaroff? I shall be back directly." He

spoke hastily; his eyes were restless.

"That's a lie!" growled the drunken, bestial Malinowsky. "We mean to

have a good look at that young lady of yours."

Tanaroff seized him by the shoulders and forced him back into his

chair. The others hurriedly resumed their places at the card-table, not

looking at Sarudine. Sanine also sat down, but there was a certain

seriousness in his smile. He had guessed that it was Lida who had come,

and a vague sense of jealousy and pity was roused within him for his

handsome sister, now obviously in great distress.