Only when he reached the garden, in the dark, he drew a proper breath.

Then he resumed his quest.
He came over to people who were talking so near him that he could touch them with his hand, and yet they did not know that he was there, and they continued to speak undisturbed.

He watched Ninochka for a long time until he learned all her life--he was almost trapped.

Ninochka even exclaimed: "Yurochka, is that you ?" He lay down behind a bush and held his breath.

Thus Ninochka was deceived.