United States or Colombia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !


He has too many secrets and mysteries, too many cunning mechanisms in his doors and his corridors. Then there are his quiet children that I do not understand at all. Where have they come from? What does he do with them? There is something nasty behind it all." "That's a work of the imagination," answered Rameyev.

I live very much alone and so am all the more glad of the fortunate circumstance that has brought me here on a matter of business." "Business?" asked Rameyev in astonishment. "I can put the matter in a few words," said Trirodov. "I wish to extend my estate." There was a tinge of sadness in Rameyev's answer: "You have bought the better part of the Prosianiya Meadows."

"Uncle, I did not suspect you of being such an amoralist," said Piotr in vexation. "There is morality and morality," replied Rameyev, not without some confusion. "I do not uphold depravity, but nevertheless demand freedom of thought and feeling. A free feeling is always innocent." "And what will you say of those naked girls in his woods is that also innocent?" asked Piotr rather spitefully.

The young Es-Dek, thinking that Trirodov felt offended at her reference to his acquaintance, added affectedly: "You know him well; then please pardon me." "I don't know his present condition," put in Trirodov. "Everything is possible." "It's impossible to be responsible for all chance acquaintances!" interpolated Rameyev. Trirodov turned to Piotr: "And what did he say about me?"

Piotr replied sharply: "Let him stay away. I'm very glad." Rameyev looked at him sternly, and said: "But I'm not glad. There's one interesting man in this wilderness, and we frighten him away." Piotr excused himself. He felt uneasy. He walked out of the house alone, aimlessly, wishing only to escape his own relatives.

Rameyev came up to them. He greeted his visitors pleasantly but coldly, giving an impression of studied correctness. The conversation continued somewhat awkwardly. Elisaveta's blue eyes looked gently and pensively at the irritated Piotr and at his deliberately inimical adversary Stchemilov. Piotr asked: "Mr. Stchemilov, would you care to explain to me this talk of an autocracy by the proletariat?

Piotr and Rameyev arrived at Trirodov's together. Rameyev more than once said to Piotr that he had been very rude to Trirodov, and that he ought to smooth out matters somehow. Piotr agreed very unwillingly. Once more they talked about the war. Trirodov asked Rameyev: "I think you see only a political significance in this war." "And do you disagree with me?" asked Rameyev.

He found it a pleasant diversion to chat with Trirodov, and even to wrangle with him sometimes. He made two calls at Trirodov's house, and did not find him in. Rameyev wrote several invitations. He received courteous but evasive replies expressing regret at not being able to come. One evening Rameyev growled at Piotr: "He stopped coming because of your rudeness."

And don't you notice it yourself, uncle, that Elisaveta has poisoned herself with this sweet poison, and has become terribly passionate and insufficiently modest?" "I do not find this at all," said Rameyev dryly. "She is in love so what's to be done? If there is sensuality in people, what is to be done with nature? Shall the whole world be maimed in order to gratify a decrepit morality?"

Trirodov said all this in a dry, cold voice. The news that Elisaveta would become Trirodov's wife acted differently on her relatives. Rameyev liked Trirodov, and was glad because of the closer connexion; he was a little sorry for Piotr, but thought it was well that the matter had come to a decision, and Piotr would no longer torment himself by entertaining false hopes.