Sanine

His animal instincts roused in their turn, Tanaroff grinned

lecherously.

"But afterwards, it was all right; never had such a time in my life!"

said Sarudine, and he shivered at the recollection.

"Lucky chap!" exclaimed Tanaroff, enviously.

"Is Sarudine at home?" cried a loud voice from the Street. "May we come

in?" It was Ivanoff.

Sarudine started, fearful lest his words about Lida Sanina should have

been heard by some one else. But Ivanoff had hailed him from the

roadway, and was not even visible.

"Yes, yes, he's at home!" cried Sarudine from the window.

In the ante-room there was a noise of laughter and clattering of feet,

as if the house were being invaded by a merry crowd. Then Ivanoff,

Novikoff, Captain Malinowsky, two other officers, and Sanine all

appeared.

"Hurrah!" cried Malinowsky, as he pushed his way in. His face was

purple, he had fat, flabby cheeks and a moustache like two wisps of

straw. "How are you, boys?"

"Bang goes another twenty-five-rouble note!" thought Sarudine with some

irritation.

As he was mainly anxious, however, not to lose his reputation for being

a wealthy, open-handed fellow, he exclaimed, smiling, "Hallo! Where are you all going? Here! Tcherepanoff get some vodka, and

whatever's wanted. Run across to the club and order some beer. You

would like some beer, gentlemen, eh? A hot day like this?"

When beer and vodka had been brought, the din grew greater. All were

laughing, and shouting and drinking, apparently bent on making as much

noise as possible. Only Novikoff seemed moody and depressed; his good-

tempered face wore an evil expression.

It was not until yesterday that he had discovered what the whole town

had been talking about; and at first a sense of humiliation and

jealousy utterly overcame him.

"It's impossible! It's absurd! Silly gossip!" he said to himself,

refusing to believe that Lida, so fair, so proud, so unapproachable,

Lida whom he so deeply loved, could possibly have scandalously

compromised herself with such a creature as Sarudine whom he looked

upon as infinitely inferior and more stupid than himself. Then wild,

bestial jealousy took possession of his soul. He had moments of the

bitterest despair, and anon he was consumed by fierce hatred of Lida,

and specially of Sarudine, To his placid, indolent temperament this

feeling was so strange that it craved an outlet. All night long he had

pitied himself, even thinking of suicide, but when morning came he only

longed with a wild, inexplicable longing to set eyes upon Sarudine.