CHAPTER VII.
On the way to Yamskaya Street Rovinskaya said to Chaplinsky:
"You'll bring me at first into the most luxurious place, then into
a medium one, and then into the filthiest."
"My dear Ellena Victorovna," warmly retorted Chaplinsky, "I'm
ready to do everything for you. It is without false boasting when
I say that I would give my life away at your order, ruin my career
and position at a mere sign of yours ... But I dare not bring you
to these houses. Russian manners are coarse, and often simply
inhuman manners. I'm afraid that you will be insulted by some
pungent, unseemly word, or that a chance visitor will play some
senseless prank before you ..."
"Ah, my God," impatiently interrupted Rovinskaya; "when I was
singing in London, there were many at that time paying court to
me, and I did not hesitate to go and see the filthiest dens of
Whitechapel in a choice company. I will say, that I was treated
there very carefully and anticipatingly. I will also say, that
there were with me at that time two English aristocrats; lords,
both sportsmen, both people unusually strong physically and
morally, who, of course, would never have allowed a woman to be
offended.
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