at the very end of a long
corridor, intersecting the whole of the upper story. Nejdanov had only
once been there for a few moments, but it seemed to him that she would
not mind if he knocked at her door, now that she even wished to speak to
him herself. It was already fairly late, about ten o'clock. The host and
hostess had not considered it necessary to disturb him after what had
taken place at the dinner table. Valentina Mihailovna inquired once
or twice about Mariana, as she too had disappeared soon after dinner.
"Where is Mariana Vikentievna?" she asked first in Russian, then in
French, addressing herself to no one in particular, but rather to the
walls, as people often do when greatly astonished, but she soon became
absorbed in the game.

Nejdanov paced up and down the room several times, then turned down the
corridor and knocked gently at Mariana's door. There was no response. He
knocked again--then he turned the handle of the door. It was locked.
But he had hardly got back to his own room and sat down, when the door
creaked softly and Mariana's voice was heard: "Alexai Dmitritch, was
that YOU, that came to me?"

He jumped up instantly and rushed out into the corridor. Mariana was
standing at his door with a candle in her hand, pale and motionless.

"Yes... I--" he murmured.

"Come," she said, turning down the corridor, but before reaching the end
she stopped and pushed open a low door. Nejdanov looked into a small,
almost bare room.

"We had better go in here, Alexai Dmitritch, no one will disturb us
here."

Nejdanov obeyed. Mariana put the candlestick on a window-sill and turned
to him.

"I understand why you wanted to see me," she began. "It is wretched for
you to live in this house, and for me too."

"Yes, I wanted to see you, Mariana Vikentievna," Nejdanov replied, "but
I do not feel wretched here since I've come to know you."

Mariana smiled pensively.

"Thank you, Alexai Dmitritch. But tell me, do you really intend stopping
here after all that has happened?"

"I don't think they will keep me--I shall be dismissed," Nejdanov
replied.

"But don't you intend going away of your own accord?"

"I... No!"

"Why not?"

"Do you want to know the truth? Because you are here." Mariana lowered
her head and moved a little further down the room.

"Besides," Nejdanov continued, "I MUST stay here. You know nothing--but
I want--I feel that I must tell you everything." He approached Mariana
and seized