Pagina 188 de 1294

Fearing the old woman would be frightened by their being alone,

and not hoping that the sight of him would disarm her suspicions,

he took hold of the door and drew it towards him to prevent the

old woman from attempting to shut it again. Seeing this she did

not pull the door back, but she did not let go the handle so that

he almost dragged her out with it on to the stairs. Seeing that

she was standing in the doorway not allowing him to pass, he

advanced straight upon her. She stepped back in alarm, tried to

say something, but seemed unable to speak and stared with open

eyes at him.

"Good evening, Alyona Ivanovna," he began, trying to speak

easily, but his voice would not obey him, it broke and shook. "I

have come... I have brought something... but we'd better come

in... to the light...."

And leaving her, he passed straight into the room uninvited. The

old woman ran after him; her tongue was unloosed.

"Good heavens! What it is? Who is it? What do you want?"