While Petrovsky, with exactly the same aim, went after Sobashnikov
in order to make a loan of three roubles from him. In the general
drawing room they made things up between them, and after ten
minutes Zociya, the housekeeper, shoved in her little, squinting,
pink, cunning face through the half-open door of the private room.
"Jennechka," she called, "go, they have brought your linen, go
count it. And you, Niura, the actor begs to come for just a
minute, to drink some champagne. He's with Henrietta and Big
Manya."
The precipitate and incongruous quarrel of Platonov and
Sobashnikov long served as a subject of conversation. The
reporter, in cases like this, always felt shame, uneasiness,
regret and the torments of conscience. And despite the fact that
all those who remained were on his side, he was speaking with
weariness in his voice:
"By God, gentlemen! I'll go away, best of all. Why should I
disrupt your circle? We were both at fault. I'll go away. Don't
bother about the bill. I've already paid Simeon, when I was going
after Pasha."
Lichonin suddenly rumpled up his hair and stood up
"Oh, no, the devil take it! I'll go and drag him here.
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