Rovinskaya was quietly whispering into Jennka's very ear:
"Never despair. Sometimes things fall out so badly that there's
nothing for it but to hang one's self--but, just look, to-morrow
life has changed abruptly. My dear, my sister, I am now a world
celebrity. But if you only knew what seas of humiliation and
vileness I have had to wade through! Be well, then, my dear, and
believe in your star."
She bent down to Jennka and kissed her on the forehead. And never
afterwards could Volodya Chaplinsky, who had been watching this
scene with a painful tension, forget those warm and beautiful
rays, which at this moment kindled in the green, long, Egyptian
eyes of the artiste.
The party departed gloomily, but Ryazanov lingered behind for a
minute.
He walked up to Jennka, respectfully and gently kissed her hand,
and said:
"If possible, forgive our prank ... This, of course, will not be
repeated. But if you ever have need of me, I am always at your
service. Here is my visiting card. Don't stick it out on your
bureau; but remember, that from this evening on I am your friend.
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