dor.

But it was not the same among the household. The young aide-de-camp had
been popular with the servants, and, with the exception of Gregory, there
was not a soul who wished him harm, so that, when it became known that he
had not been sent on a mission, but had disappeared, the matter became
the constant subject of conversation in the antechamber, the kitchen, and
the stables. There was another place where people busied themselves
about it a great deal--this was the Red House.

From the day when he heard of Foedor's mysterious departure Gregory had
his suspicions. He was sure that he had seen Foedor enter Vaninka's
room, and unless he had gone out while he was going to seek the general,
he did not understand why the latter had not found him in his daughter's
room. Another thing occupied his mind, which it seemed to him might
perhaps have some connection with this event--the amount of money Ivan
had been spending since that time, a very extraordinary amount for a
slave. This slave, however, was the brother of Vaninka's cherished
foster-sister, so that, without being sure, Gregory already suspected the
source from whence this money came. Another thing confirmed him in his
suspicions, which was that Ivan, who had not only remained his most
faithful friend, but had become one of his best customers, never spoke of
Foedor, held his tongue if he were mentioned in his presence, and to all
questions, however pressing they were, made but one answer: "Let us speak
of something else."

In the meantime the Feast of Kings arrived. This is a great day in St.
Petersburg, for it is also the day for blessing the waters.

As Vaninka had been present at the ceremony, and was fatigued after
standing for two hours on the Neva, the general did not go out that
evening, and gave Ivan leave to do so. Ivan profited by the permission
to go to the Red House.

There was a numerous company there, and Ivan was welcomed; for it was
known that he generally came with full pockets. This time he did not
belie his reputation, and had scarcely arrived before he made the
sorok-kopecks ring, to the great envy of his companions.

At this warning sound Gregory hastened up with all possible deference, a
bottle of brandy in each hand; for he knew that when Ivan summoned him he
gained in two ways, as innkeeper and as boon companion. Ivan did not
disappoint these hopes, and Gregory was invited to share in the
entertainment. The conversation turn