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Updated: May 28, 2025
It seemed at first sight to be littered with papers, newspapers, Revolutionary sheets and proclamations, the Pravda, the Novaya Jezn, the Soldatskaya Mwyssl.... On the dirty wall-paper there were enormous dark photographs, in faded gilt frames, of family groups; on one wall there was a large garishly coloured picture of Grogoff himself in student's dress.
"'He will carry off Nina' was my next thought ludicrous there at such a time, in such a crowd, but it is exactly like that that life shifts and shifts until it has formed a pattern. I was frightened by Grogoff. I could not believe that the new freedom, the new Russia, the new world would be made by such men. He waved his arms, he pushed back his hair, the men shouted.
He did not, of course, like her at the beginning, and I doubt whether she caused him any real concern, too, until her flight to Grogoff. That shocked him terribly. He confessed as much to me. She had always been so happy and easy about life. Nothing was serious to her. I remember once telling her she ought to take the war more deeply. I was a bit of a prig about it, I suppose.
He chose the Monday, the day of the Bourse meeting, because he fancied that Grogoff would be present at that and he might therefore catch Nina alone, and because he and his fellow-propagandists would be expected also at the meeting and he would therefore be free of his office earlier on that afternoon.
The thought of Nina worried him more and more. After he went to bed at night, he would hear her laugh and see her mocking smile and listen to her shrill imitations of his own absurdities. She had been the one happy person amongst them all, and now ! Well, he had seen enough of Boris Grogoff to know what sort of fellow he was.
Don't I know the business he's after? And it's the third time I won't see him again no, I won't. He " "Good-evening, Nina Michailovna," I said, smiling. She turned to me. "Durdles Mr. Durdles only listen. It was all arranged for to-night the Parisian, and then we were to come straight back " "But your guest " I began. However the torrent continued. The door opened and Boris Grogoff came in.
Badinage with Russians so quickly passes to lively and noisy quarrelling, which in its turn so suddenly fades into quiet contented amiability that it is little wonder that the observer feels rather breathless at it all. Grogoff was a striking figure, with his fine height and handsome head and bold eyes, but there was something about him that I did not like.
There was a note of scorn in his voice as he repeated my earlier sentence. "What is it?" she asked, looking at me defiantly. "I'd like to give it you alone," I said. "Whatever you say to me it is right that Boris should hear," she answered. I tried to forget that Grogoff was there. I went on: "Well then, Nina, you must know what I want to say. They are heartbroken at your leaving them.
Through all this my eyes had never left her for a moment. I had hoped that this empty tub-thumping to which we had been listening would have affected her. But she had not moved nor stirred. "Nina!" I said softly. "Nina. Come with me!" But she only shook her head. Grogoff, quite silent now, lolled on the sofa, watching us. I went up to her and put my hand on her sleeve.
I shall have, until I die, a feeling of tenderness.... I was recalled from my observation of Grogoff and the Rat by the sensation that the waters of emotion were rising higher around me. I raised my eyes and saw that the Belgian Consul was addressing the meeting.
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