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Updated: June 4, 2025
Nina and the Countess Zoya sat apart talking together until nearly midnight. Finally, with a yawn, Zoya suggested that they try to break up the party. For a little while they looked on. Not understanding the game of baccarat, Nina watched the faces of the players. Suddenly she felt uneasy about her uncle, who had taken a place at the table.
The household was thrown into a state of bustle; a messenger galloped off to Moscow for Nikolai Artemyevitch; with him galloped the butler to buy wines, pies, and all sorts of provisions; Shubin was commissioned to hire an open carriage the coach alone was not enough and to order relays of horses to be ready; a page was twice despatched to Bersenyev and Insarov with two different notes of invitation, written by Zoya, the first in Russian, the second in French; Anna Vassilyevna herself was busy over the dresses of the young ladies for the expedition.
Zoya blew rings of smoke unperturbed. "So you have found that out, have you?" Nina colored with indignation. "Have you known that, too, and never told me? Zoya, you call yourself my friend!" But Zoya met Nina's glance squarely, as she asked in turn: "What difference does it make? Though, for that matter, I've made it plain all winter; any one but a baby would have understood long ago.
But after all, why such an excitement over such a commonplace fact?" Then, with far more interest, she said: "You certainly are funny, you Americans. What in the world do you think men are? And since Giovanni is not even married? However, to finish my story: it was not the Potensi with your hero, but Favorita." "Favorita the dancer? Zoya, what do you mean?" "Exactly what I tell you."
She believed in Giovanni's disinterestedness; he had given her every reason to think he truly loved her. It seemed to her that she had seen his real feeling grow gradually. If she could believe in any one ever, she must believe in him. Even the astute little Zoya Olisco had confirmed the impression by saying that all Rome knew that Giovanni cared nothing for money.
Besides no one troubled her much; Anna Vassilyevna was taken up with her swollen face; Shubin was working furiously; Zoya was given up to pensiveness, and disposed to read Werther; Nikolai Artemyevitch was much displeased at the frequent visits of 'the scholar, especially as his 'cherished projects' in regard to Kurnatovsky were making no way; the practical chief secretary was puzzled and biding his time.
"Come, we will fill in the contract!" Nina had intended taking her Italian teacher out with her in the automobile. She did this quite often, as it was as easy to practice Italian conversation in a motor-car as anywhere else. But after half an hour Favorita was nearly that late she had given up waiting and telephoned Zoya Olisco suggesting that they two spend the day at Tivoli.
After dinner, Elena with Bersenyev and Shubin went into the garden; Zoya looked after them, and, with a slight shrug of her shoulders, sat down to the piano. Anna Vassilyevna began: 'Why don't you go for a walk, too? but, without waiting for a reply, she added: 'Play me something melancholy. 'La derniere pensee de Weber? suggested Zoya. 'Ah, yes, Weber, replied Anna Vassilyevna.
At last he snatched her fingers, and squeezed them so tightly that she shrieked, and for a long time afterwards breathed on her hand, pretending to be angry, while he murmured something in her ears. 'Mischievous things, young people, Anna Vassilyevna observed gaily to Uvar Ivanovitch. He flourished his fingers in reply. 'What a girl Zoya Nikitishna is! said Bersenyev to Elena. 'And Shubin?
But the Contessa Zoya showed neither sympathy nor credulity, and there was no misinterpreting her meaning as she said: "It is true, Princess, you know the Potensi well, and I only slightly but if my husband offered a diamond ornament " "He would never give her another! Is that it?" put in Tornik. "No nor any one!"
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