The same results followed as when Schmidt had made the same attempt.

There was a distant tinkling followed by total silence.

Vjera repeated the operation.
"You cannot do more than I have done," said her companion, leaning his back against the door and watching her movements.
"I ought to do more." "Why, Vjera ?" "Because he is more to me than to you or to any of the rest," she answered in a low voice.
"Do you mean to say that you love the Count ?" inquired Schmidt, surprised beyond measure by the girl's words and rendered thereby even more tactless than usual.
But Vjera said nothing, having been already led into saying more than she had wished to say.

She pulled the bell again.
"I had never thought of that," remarked the Cossack in a musing tone.

"But he is mad, Vjera, the poor Count is mad.