Chapter 15

           Katia,themaid-servant,madeherappearance,terriblyfrightened.

           “Goodnessknowswhatitmeans,ma’am,”shesaid.“Thereisawholecollectionofmencome—alltipsy—andwanttoseeyou.Theysaythat‘it’sRogojin,andsheknowsallaboutit.’”

           “It’sallright,Katia,letthemallinatonce.”

           “Surelynotall,ma’am?Theyseemsodisorderly—it’sdreadfultoseethem.”

           “Yesall,Katia,all—everyoneofthem.Letthemin,orthey’llcomeinwhetheryoulikeorno.Listen!whatanoisetheyaremaking!Perhapsyouareoffended,gentlemen,thatIshouldreceivesuchguestsinyourpresence?Iamverysorry,andaskyourforgiveness,butitcannotbehelped—andIshouldbeverygratefulifyoucouldallstayandwitnessthisclimax.However,justasyouplease,ofcourse.”

           Theguestsexchangedglances;theywereannoyedandbewilderedbytheepisode;butitwasclearenoughthatallthishadbeenpre-arrangedandexpectedbyNastasiaPhilipovna,andthattherewasnouseintryingtostophernow—forshewaslittleshortofinsane.

           Besides,theywerenaturallyinquisitivetoseewhatwastohappen.Therewasnobodywhowouldbelikelytofeelmuchalarm.Therewerebuttwoladiespresent;oneofwhomwasthelivelyactress,whowasnoteasilyfrightened,andtheotherthesilentGermanbeautywho,itturnedout,didnotunderstandawordofRussian,andseemedtobeasstupidasshewaslovely.