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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."
"Not at all!" said Tanaroff, indignantly. "Don't you find this sort of talk rather boring?" asked Sanine. Sarudine's rejoinder was lost in a fit of coughing. They all of them really thought such a discussion tedious and unnecessary; and yet they all felt somewhat offended. An unpleasant silence reigned. Lida and Maria Ivanovna appeared on the verandah.
His linen jacket all unbuttoned, Sarudine slowly paced up and down the room languidly smoking a cigarette, and displaying his large white teeth. Tanaroff, in just his shirt and riding-breeches, lay at full length on the sofa, furtively watching Sarudine with his little black eyes. He was in urgent need of fifty roubles, and had already asked his friend twice for them.
Sanine who had heard nothing yet who had seen and comprehended all, followed him, roused almost to a feeling of jealousy. "Brutes like that are always lucky," he thought to himself, "What the devil does it all mean? Lida and he?" At supper, Maria Ivanovna seemed in a bad temper. Tanaroff as usual said nothing.
In the drawing-room Tanaroff was playing an old-fashioned, mournful waltz whose languorous cadences floated on the air. Approaching Lida, Sarudine gently and deftly placed his arm round her waist. Sanine could perceive that both figures became merged into one that swayed in the misty light.
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.
"How dare he? ... what business I ... It's simply ..." Sanine looked at him, and, making a contemptuous gesture, walked out of the room. "We will deliver your message to our brother-officer," said Tanaroff, calling after him. "As you please," said Sanine, without looking round.
Sarudine pointedly locked his cash-box and shut the drawer of the bureau. Tanaroff had just time to glance at the box containing the fifty roubles which he needed so much, and then, sighing, lit a cigarette. He felt deeply mortified, yet he was afraid to show this, lest Sarudine should become more angry. "What are two roubles to him?" he thought, "He knows very well that I am hard up."
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!
Von Deitz drew himself up and sought to give an expression of hauteur to his horse-like countenance; unsuccessfully, however, owing to his confusion. Strange to say, it was Tanaroff, usually so stupid and shy, who addressed Sanine in firm, decisive fashion.
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