now,' he began, politely swaying from one foot to the other, and with a sudden sidelong look in imitation of a very important personage.
Valentina Mihilovna made a faint grimace.
'Or you would not have come?'
Kallomyetsev all but fell backwards, so unjust, so inconsistent with the facts did Valentina Mihalovna's question seem to him.
'Valentina Mihalovna!' he cried, 'heavens! could you suppose . . .'
'Well, well, sit down. Boris Andreitch will be here directly. I have sent the carriage to the station for him. Wait a little. . . . You will see him. What time is it now?'
'Half-past two,' replied Kallomyetsev, pulling out of his waistcoat pocket a big gold watch decorated with enamel. He showed it to Madame Sipyagin. 'Have you seen my watch? It was a present from Mihail, you know, the Servian prince . . . Obrenovitch. Here's his crest, look. We are great friends. We used to go hunting together. A capital fellow! And a hand of iron, as a ruler should have! Oh, he won't stand any nonsense! No-o-o!'
Kallomyetsev sank into an easy chair, crossed his legs, and began in a leisurely way to draw off his left glove.
56
