table and drew out from the very bottom of it a manuscript-book.
He sank on to a chair, his eyes still turned away, took up a pen, and humming to himself, at times shaking back his hair, with much blotting and scratching out, he set to tracing line after line.
The door into the anteroom was half opened, and Mashurina's head appeared. Nezhdanov did not notice her and went on with his work. Long and intently Mashurina gazed upon him, and, with a shake of her head to right and left, drew back. . . . But Nezhdanov all at once drew himself up, looked round, and exclaiming with vexation, 'Oh, you!' he flung the book into the table drawer.
Then Mashurina advanced with a firm step into the room.
'Ostrodumov sent me to you,' she observed jerkily, 'to find out when you can get the money. If you can let us have it to-day we will start this evening.'
'To-day I can't', rejoined Nezhdanov, and he frowned; 'come to-morrow.'
'At what o'clock?'
'Two o'clock.'
'Very well.'
Mashurina was silent for a little. All at once she held out her hand to Nezhdanov.
47
