you tell me what sort of a fine gentleman he is?'
Marianna followed Tatyana—she had to pass close by Nezhdanov—and again she noticed his brow contracted painfully, and again she passed her handkerchief over it. Through the dusty window-pane she caught sight of the visitor, of whom Tatyana had been speaking. He was a stranger to her. But at that very instant Solomin came into sight round the corner of the house.
The little lame man went rapidly to him, and held out his hand. Solomin took it. He obviously knew the man. Both of them vanished. . . .
But now their steps could be heard on the stairs.. . . They were coming up.. . .
Marianna went back hurriedly into her room and stood still in the middle, hardly able to breathe. She felt dread . . . of what? She did not know.
Solomin's head appeared in the doorway.
'Marianna Vikentyevna, allow us to come in to you. I have brought a person whom it's absolutely necessary for you to see.'
Marianna merely nodded in reply, and behind Solomin in walked—Paklin.
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