The doctor had guessed right, she had a bad headache.
From time to time she cried out and woke up.
She looked at me with positive vexation, as though my attention was particularly irksome.
I must confess this wounded me.
At eleven o’clock Masloboev turned up.
He was preoccupied and seemed absentminded; he only came in for a minute, and was in a great hurry to get away.
“Well, brother, I didn’t expect that you lived in great style, he observed, looking round, “but I didn’t think I should find you in such a box.
This is a box, not a lodging.
But that’s nothing though what does matter is that all these outside worries take you off your work.
I thought of that yesterday when we were driving to Bubnov’s.
By natural temperament, brother, and by social position I’m one of those people who can do nothing sensible themselves, but can read sermons to other people.
Now, listen, I’ll look in, perhaps, tomorrow or next day, and you be sure to come and see me on Sunday morning.
I hope by then the problem of this child will be completely settled; then we’ll talk things over seriously, for you need looking after in earnest.
You can’t go on living like this.
I only dropped a hint yesterday, but now I’ll put it before you logically.
And tell me, in short, do you look on it as a dishonour to take money from me for a time?”
“Come, don’t quarrel,” I interrupted.
“You’d better tell me how things ended there yesterday.”
“Well, they ended most satisfactorily. My object was attained you understand.
I’ve no time now.
I only looked in for a minute to tell you I’m busy and have no time for you, and to find out by the way whether you’re going to place her somewhere, or whether you mean to keep her yourself.
Because it wants thinking over and settling.”
“That I don’t know for certain yet, and I must own I was waiting to ask your advice.
How could I keep her?”
“Why, as a servant. . . .”
“Please don’t speak so loud.
Though she’s ill she’s quite conscious, and I noticed she started when she saw you.
No doubt she remembered yesterday.”
Then I told him about her behaviour and all the peculiarities I had noticed in her.
Masloboev was interested in what I told him.
I added that perhaps I could place her in a household, and told him briefly about my old friends.
To my astonishment he knew something of Natasha’s story, and when I asked him how he had heard of it:
“Oh,” he said, “I heard something about it long ago in connexion with some business.
I’ve told you already that I know Prince Valkovsky.
That’s a good idea of yours to send her to those old people.
She’d only be in your way.
And another thing, she wants some sort of a passport.
Don’t you worry about that. I’ll undertake it.
Goodbye. Come and see me often.
Is she asleep now?”
“I think so,” I answered.
But as soon as he had gone Elena called to me.
“Who’s that?” she asked.
Her voice shook, but she looked at me with the same intent and haughty expression.
I can find no other word for it.
I told her Masloboev’s name, and said that it was by his help I got her away from Mme. Bubnov’s, and that Mme. Bubnov was very much afraid of him.
Her cheeks suddenly flushed fiery red, probably at the recollection of the past.
“And she will never come here?” asked Elena, with a searching look at me.
I made haste to reassure her.
She remained silent, and was taking my hand in her burning fingers, but she dropped it again at once as though recollecting herself.