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suggested Hippolyte, although there was an unoccu pied table close to the orchestra. Liza felt that every one was staring at her, so she rapidly agreed. The one-time social lion and ladykiller of Stargorod shyly followed her, sat down at the table and began to polish his glasses to try and over come his embarrassment. The waiters ignored them. Hippolyte had not ex pected this, and instead of conversing gallantly with his companion he was silent and wretched. He rattled the ash-tray on the table and kept clearing his throat. Liza looked round the room. The silence was becoming unnatural, but Hippolyte could not think of anything to say, nor could he remember what was usually said on such occasions. He was oppressed because the waiters paid no attention to their table. ‘ Be so kind ! ’ he kept calling to the waiters as they hurried past them.
- Just a minute ! Just a minute ! ’ they called as
they ran on. At last the menu was brought to them. Hippolyte sighed gratefully and began to study the card. ‘ Good gracious ! ’ he exclaimed. ‘ A veal cutlet, two roubles twenty-five ! A fillet of steak, two roubles twenty-five ! Vodka, five roubles ! ’ ‘ It’s a large bottle for five roubles,’ said the waiter, looking round impatiently. ‘ What am I doing ? ’ thought Hippolyte, beginning to feel ridiculous. ‘ Don’t you think we’d better choose something ? ’ asked Liza politely. ‘ What are you going to have ? ’ Liza was ashamed of Hippolyte’s behaviour. She could see the haughty way in which the waiter was looking down at him, and she was made to feel that he was not doing the right thing. ‘ I’m not in the least hungry,’ she said in a trembhng voice, and then turned to the waiter : ‘ Have you any vegetarian dishes here ? ’ 9
