“An interesting type, that! He must be pretty strong!” he thought, with the genuine admiration of the weakling for the athlete. 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.
At this moment Sarudine came back. He sat down next to Volochine and asked questions about St. Petersburg, and also about the latter’s factory, so as to let the others know what a very wealthy and important person his visitor was. The handsome face of this sturdy animal now wore an expression of petty vanity and self-importance.
“Everything’s the same with us, just the same!” replied Volochine, in a bored tone of voice. “How is it with you?”
“Oh! 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.
“Yes, yes!” drawled Volochine; to Sarudine his tone seemed to say, “and you’re no better, either.”
“I think I must be going now. I’m staying at the hotel on the boulevard. I may see you again!” Volochine rose to take his leave.
At this moment the orderly entered and saluting in slovenly fashion, said,
“Ah! yes, I know,” said Sarudine. He glanced about him nervously, feeling a sudden presentiment.
“I wonder if it’s Lida?” he thought. “Impossible!”
Volochine’s inquisitive eyes twinkled. His puny little body in its loose white clothes seemed to acquire new vitality.
“Well, good-bye!” he said, laughing. “Up to your old tricks, as usual! Ha! Ha!”
Sarudine smiled uneasily, as he accompanied his visitor to the door, and with a parting stare the latter in his immaculate shoes hurried off.
“Now, sirs,” said Sarudine, on his return, “how’s the game going? Take the bank for me, will you, Tanaroff? I shall be back directly.” He spoke hastily; his eyes were restless.
“That’s a lie!” growled the drunken, bestial Malinowsky. “We mean to have a good look at that young lady of yours.”
Tanaroff seized him by the shoulders and forced him back into his chair. The others hurriedly resumed their places at the card-table, not looking at Sarudine. Sanine also sat down, but there was a certain seriousness in his smile. He had guessed that it was Lida who had come, and a vague sense of jealousy and pity was roused within him for his handsome sister, now obviously in great distress.