Page:The Novels of Ivan Turgenev (volume VI).djvu/106

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VIRGIN SOIL

in Marianna, he felt a foe in Kallomyetsev! And Kallomyetsev was conscious of it; he dropped his eyeglass, turned away, and tried to laugh . . . but unsuccessfully; only Anna Zaharovna, who secretly adored him, inwardly took his part, and was still more indignant at the uninvited neighbour who was separating her from Kolya.

Shortly afterwards the dinner came to an end. The party moved on to the terrace to drink coffee; Sipyagin and Kallomyetsev lighted cigars. Sipyagin offered Nezhdanov a genuine regalia, but he refused it.

'Ah! to be sure!' cried Sipyagin; 'I'd forgotten; you only smoke your cigarettes!'

'Curious taste,' Kallomyetsev observed, between his teeth.

Nezhdanov almost exploded. 'I know the difference between a regalia and a cigarette well enough, but I don't care to be under obligations,' almost broke from his lips. . . . He restrained himself; but at once scored this second piece of insolence as a 'debt' to pay back against his enemy.

'Marianna!' Madame Sipyagin observed all at once, in a loud voice, 'you need not stand on ceremony before a stranger . . . you may smoke your cigarette, and welcome. Besides,' she added, turning towards Nezhdanov, 'I

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