Chapter 10

           Theentrance-hallsuddenlybecamefullofnoiseandpeople.Tojudgefromthesoundswhichpenetratedtothedrawing-room,anumberofpeoplehadalreadycomein,andthestampedecontinued.Severalvoicesweretalkingandshoutingatonce;othersweretalkingandshoutingonthestairsoutside;itwasevidentlyamostextraordinaryvisitthatwasabouttotakeplace.

           Everyoneexchangedstartledglances.Ganiarushedouttowardsthedining-room,butanumberofmenhadalreadymadetheirwayin,andmethim.

           “Ah!hereheis,theJudas!”criedavoicewhichtheprincerecognizedatonce.“Howd’yedo,Gania,youoldblackguard?”

           “Yes,that’stheman!”saidanothervoice.

           Therewasnoroomfordoubtintheprince’smind:oneofthevoiceswasRogojin’s,andtheotherLebedeff’s.

           Ganiastoodatthedoorlikeablockandlookedoninsilence,puttingnoobstacleinthewayoftheirentrance,andtenoradozenmenmarchedinbehindParfenRogojin.Theywereadecidedlymixed-lookingcollection,andsomeofthemcameinintheirfursandcaps.Noneofthemwerequitedrunk,butallappearedtobeconsiderablyexcited.

           Theyseemedtoneedeachother’ssupport,morally,beforetheydaredcomein;notoneofthemwouldhaveenteredalonebutwiththeresteachonewasbraveenough.EvenRogojinenteredrathercautiouslyattheheadofhistroop;buthewasevidentlypreoccupied.Heappearedtobegloomyandmorose,andhadclearlycomewithsomeendinview.