"Yes, yes! c'est quelque chose d'inoui! he commanded me to break off all relations with you, and to stop visiting his house."
"A thousand and one nights! Why is it? What is it for?" exclaimed the other.
Suddenly he stopped part way on the stairs, and asked with a half jeering, half pitying look at his companion:
"If he should find out?"
Kranitski turned his face away.
"My Maryan—with you—of that—"
"Painted pots!" laughed Maryan. "Do you take me for my great-grandfather? Well, has he found it out?"
With red spots on his cheeks and forehead Kranitski blinked affirmatively.
"Sapristi!" imprecated Maryan, and immediately he laughed again. "And why? for what reason? Did he also believe in painted pots? I thought him modern."
"Alas!" sighed Kranitski.