Pagina 45 de 2288

When the case had been read through, Stepan Arkadyevitch got up

and stretched, and by way of tribute to the liberalism of the

times took out a cigarette in the boardroom and went into his

private room. Two of the members of the board, the old veteran in

the service, Nikitin, and the Kammerjunker Grinevitch, went in

with him.

"We shall have time to finish after lunch," said Stepan

Arkadyevitch.

"To be sure we shall!" said Nikitin.

"A pretty sharp fellow this Fomin must be," said Grinevitch of

one of the persons taking part in the case they were examining.

Stepan Arkadyevitch frowned at Grinevitch's words, giving him

thereby to understand that it was improper to pass judgment

prematurely, and made him no reply.

"Who was that came in?" he asked the doorkeeper.

"Someone, your excellency, crept in without permission directly

my back was turned. He was asking for you. I told him: when the

members come out, then...."

"Where is he?"