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When the soldier had gone out, they returned to their subject, the word "Woman" forming the theme of talk that became at times grotesque in its obscenity. Sarudine's instinctive longing to boast, and to eclipse Volochine led him at last to speak of the splendid woman who had yielded to his charms, and gradually to reveal his own secret lasciviousness.
I'm just vegetating," said Sarudine with a mournful sigh. Volochine was silent, and looked up disdainfully at the ceiling where the green reflections from the garden wavered. "Our one and only amusement is this," continued Sarudine, as with a gesture he indicated the cards, the bottles, and his guests.
"Oh, Lidia Petrovna!" said Sarudine, "you surely don't call that a pretty speech!" "I beg your pardon?" asked Lida drily, as if she had not heard, and then, in a different tone, she again addressed Volochine. "Do tell me something about life in Petersburg. Here, we don't live, we only vegetate."
"Mais au contraire!" lisped Volochine, as he waved his hand in a finicking fashion and gazed ardently at Lida. "Come! come! no pretty speeches!" said Lida, coquettishly, while to Sarudine her whole being seemed to say: "You think that I am wretched, don't you? and utterly crushed? But I am nothing of the kind, my friend. Look at me!"
"Why on earth does the fool want to come here today?" he thought, irritably, as he sent the orderly to fetch wine. "This Volochine will say such things about me in Petersburg that I shan't be able to get a footing in any decent house." Meanwhile Volochine was taking stock of the others with undisguised curiosity, feeling that he himself was immeasurably superior.
Volochine winked at Sarudine in the most unmistakable manner; and this was not lost upon Sanine, who from his corner was watching them closely. The thought that Volochine would no longer regard him as a smart, dashing, dare-devil sort of fellow gave Sarudine some of his old assurance. "And where is Lidia Petrovna?" he asked carelessly. Maria Ivanovna looked at him in surprise and anger.
Perhaps her mother knew all? He fidgeted nervously on his chair; lit a cigarette, shrugged his shoulders, moved his legs, and looked about him right and left. "Are you making a long stay?" asked Maria Ivanovna of Volochine, in a cold, formal voice.
In fact, he began to speak to Sanine but the latter, leaning against the window- sill, was looking out at the garden. Volochine stopped short; the very sound of his own squeaky voice vexed him. "Hooligans!" he thought. At this moment Sarudine came back. He sat down next to Volochine and asked questions about St.
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 looked so elegant and self-possessed, that Sarudine felt somewhat envious, and endeavoured to assume an equally careless demeanour; but ever since Lida had flung the word "brute" in his face, he had felt ill at ease, as if every one had heard the insult and was secretly mocking him. Volochine smiled, and chatted about various trifling matters.
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