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The wild untrammelled beast became increasingly evident in each. Ideas like scurrying mice rushed through Sarudine's mind. His first thought was to give Lida money, and persuade her to get rid of the child. He must break with her at once, and for ever. That would end the whole business. Yet though he considered this to be the best way, he said nothing.
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. Sideways, on Sarudine's bed, sat Lida, in despair, convulsively twisting her handkerchief. As he came in he was struck by her altered appearance. Of the proud, high-spirited girl there was not a trace.
With a sense of despair such as one who falls headlong into a chasm might feel, he clumsily and threateningly flourished the whip. At that same moment Sanine, using all his strength, struck him full in the face with his clenched fist. "Good!" exclaimed Ivanoff involuntarily. Sarudine's head hung limply on one side.
Two red spots appeared on Sarudine's scrupulously shaven cheeks, and the muscles of his face worked convulsively. He silently resumed his walk up and down the room and suddenly stopped in front of Tanaroff. "Look here," he said, and his voice trembled with anger, "I should be much obliged if, in future, you would leave me to manage my own money- affairs." Tanaroff's face flushed crimson. "H'm!
"You could not have thought of anything sillier!" cried Sanine, breathless. By a strange coincidence it so happened that Lida had reached the very spot adjoining Sarudine's garden where first she had surrendered to him, a place, screened by dark trees from the light of the moon. Sanine had seen her in the distance, and had guessed her intention.
"I'm going to see what they are about, in there," replied Sanine, pointing to the closed door. "Don't be a fool I Sit down and have a drink!" said Ivanoff. "You're the fool!" rejoined Sanine, as he went out. On reaching a narrow side-street where nettles grew in profusion, Sanine bethought himself of the exact spot which Sarudine's windows overlooked.
The moon was a moon no longer; it seemed close, close to the trellis-work of the veranda, as if it hung just above the luminous lawn. The garden was not the one that she knew, but another garden, sombre, mysterious, that, suddenly approaching, closed round her. Her brain reeled. She drew back, and with strange languor, freed herself from Sarudine's embrace. "Yes," she murmured with difficulty.
Volochine adjusted his pince-nez and smiled a smile that found its reflection In Sarudine's face which suddenly acquired a look of lust. "I don't expect you waste much of your time, do you?" said Volochine, with a knowing wink. "Oh! as for that, well, what else is there to do?" replied Sarudine, shrugging his shoulders slightly. Then they both laughed, and for a while were silent.
He stood with legs apart, breathing hard, and big drops of sweat were on his brow. Sarudine slowly staggered to his feet. Faint, incoherent words escaped from his quivering, swollen lips, vague words of menace that to Sanine sounded singularly ridiculous. The whole left side of Sarudine's face had instantly became swollen.
The orderly now entered the room, a little freckled fellow who in slow, clumsy fashion stood at attention, and, without looking at Sarudine, said, "If you please, sir, you asked for beer, but there isn't any more." Sarudine's face grew red, as involuntarily he glanced at Tanaroff. "Well, this is really a bit too much!" he thought. "He knows that I am hard up, yet beer has to be sent for."
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