I swear that they are still alive.' In short, he made such a scene that the whole village came running to the house, and children screamed, and men shouted, and no one could tell what it was all about.

The affair seemed to me so horrible, so utterly horrible, that I trembled beyond belief as I listened to the story.

'My dearest madam,' said my maid, Mashka, 'pray look at yourself in the mirror, and see how white you are.' 'But I have no time for that,' I replied, 'as I must be off to tell my friend, Anna Grigorievna, the news.' Nor did I lose a moment in ordering the koliaska.

Yet when my coachman, Andrusha, asked me for directions I could not get a word out--I just stood staring at him like a fool, until I thought he must think me mad.

Oh, Anna Grigorievna, if you but knew how upset I am!" "What a strange affair!" commented the hostess.