Chapter 4

           Theprinceobservedwithgreatsurprise,asheapproachedhisvilla,accompaniedbyRogojin,thatalargenumberofpeoplewereassembledonhisverandah,whichwasbrilliantlylightedup.Thecompanyseemedmerryandwerenoisilylaughingandtalking—evenquarrelling,tojudgefromthesounds.Atalleventstheywereclearlyenjoyingthemselves,andtheprinceobservedfurtheroncloserinvestigation—thatallhadbeendrinkingchampagne.Tojudgefromthelivelyconditionofsomeoftheparty,itwastobesupposedthataconsiderablequantityofchampagnehadbeenconsumedalready.

           Alltheguestswereknowntotheprince;butthecuriouspartofthematterwasthattheyhadallarrivedonthesameevening,asthoughwithoneaccord,althoughhehadonlyhimselfrecollectedthefactthatitwashisbirthdayafewmomentssince.

           “Youmusthavetoldsomebodyyouweregoingtotrotoutthechampagne,andthat’swhytheyareallcome!”mutteredRogojin,asthetwoenteredtheverandah.“Weknowallaboutthat!You’veonlytowhistleandtheycomeupinshoals!”hecontinued,almostangrily.Hewasdoubtlessthinkingofhisownlateexperienceswithhisbooncompanions.

           Allsurroundedtheprincewithexclamationsofwelcome,and,onhearingthatitwashisbirthday,withcriesofcongratulationanddelight;manyofthemwereverynoisy.

           Thepresenceofcertainofthoseintheroomsurprisedtheprincevastly,buttheguestwhoseadventfilledhimwiththegreatestwonder—almostamountingtoalarm—wasEvgeniePavlovitch.