The latter began by thanking him warmly for consenting to stay the night.
'I know . . . it's a sacrifice for you.. . .'
'0h, nonsense!' Solomin responded in his deliberate tones; 'much of a sacrifice! Besides, I can't say no to you.'
'Why so?'
'Oh, because I like you.'
Nezhdanov was delighted and astounded, while Solomin pressed his hand. Then he seated himself astride on a chair, lighted a cigar, and, with both elbows on the chair-back, he observed, 'Come, tell me what's the matter.'
Nezhdanov, too, seated himself astride on a chair facing Solomin, but he did not light a cigar.
'What's the matter, you ask? . . . The matter is that I want to run away from here.'
'That is, you want to leave this house? Well, what of it? Good luck to you!'
'Not to leave . . . but to run away.'
'Why? do they detain you? You . . . perhaps you've received some salary in advance? If so, you need only say the word. . . . I should be delighted.'
'You don't understand me, my dear Solomin. . . . I said, run away—not leave—because I'm not going away from here alone.'
Solomin raised his head.
65
