“You are odious to me,” I said.
“That is natural.… I am odious to myself.…”
There was silence again.… I opened the cash-book and began mechanically to count up the numbers.… Kamyshev took up his hat.
“I see you are stifled while I am here,” he said. “By-the-by, don't you want to see Count Karnéev. There he is sitting in the cab!”
I went up to the window and glanced at him.… Sitting in the cab with his back towards us sat a small stooping figure, in a shabby hat and a faded collar. It was difficult to recognize in him one of the actors of the drama!
“I heard that Urbenin's son is living here in Moscow in the Andréev Chambers,” Kamyshev said. “I want to arrange that the Count should receive alms from him.… Let at least one be punished! However, I must say adieu!”
Kamyshev nodded and hastened out of the room. I sat down at the table and gave myself up to bitter thoughts.
I felt stifled.
Endnotes
1 A government official. [↩︎]