As if at by unspoken command the two brothers turned their heads and began telling lies.
'There's no news', said Nikolka and bit off a mouthful.
'What I said was purely, h'm . . . conjectural.
Rumors.'
'No, it's not rumors', Elena countered firmly. 'That wasn't a rumor - it was true; I saw Shcheglova today and she said that two German regiments had withdrawn from Borodyanka.'
'Rubbish.'
'Now just think,' Alexei began. 'Is it conceivable that the Germans should let that scoundrel Petlyura come anywhere near the city?
Is it?
Personally I can't imagine how they could ever come to terms with him for one moment.
Petlyura and the Germans - it's utterly absurd.
They themselves regard him as nothing but a bandit.
It's ridiculous.'
'I don't believe you.
I know what these Germans are like by now.
I've seen several of them wearing red arm-bands.
The other day I saw a drunken German sergeant with a peasant woman - and she was drunk too.'
'What of it?
There may be isolated cases of demoralisation even in the German army.'
'So you don't think Petlyura will break through?'
'H'm ... No, I don't think it's possible.'
'Absolument pas.
Pour me another cup of tea, please.
Don't worry.
Maintain, as the saying goes, complete calm.'
'But where's Sergei, for God's sake?
I'm certain that train has been attacked and . . .'
'Pure imagination.
Look - that line is completely out of any possible danger.'
'But something might happen, mightn't it?'
'Oh, God!
You know what railroad journeys are like nowadays.
I expect they were held up for about three hours at every single station.'
'That's what a revolution does to the trains.
Two hours' delay for every hour on the move.'
With a deep sigh Elena looked at the clock, was silent for a while, then spoke again:
'God, if only the Germans hadn't acted so despicably everything would be all right.
Two of their regiments would have been enough to squash that Petlyura of yours like a fly.
No, I can see perfectly well that the Germans are playing some filthy double game.
And where are our gallant Allies all this time?
Ugh, the swine.
Promises, promises . . .'
The samovar, silent until then, suddenly whistled and a few glowing coals, forced down by a heap of gray ash, fell on to the tray.
Involuntarily the two brothers glanced towards the stove.
There was the answer.
Didn't it say:
'The Allies are swine'?
The minute hand stopped on the quarter-hour, the clock cleared its throat sedately and struck once. Instantly the clock's chime was answered by the gentle, tinkling ring of the front-door bell.
'Thank God; it's Sergei', said Alexei joyfully.
'Yes, it must be', Nikolka agreed and ran to open the door.
Flushed, Elena stood up.