“Yes, you’ll find it by following the direction from which we came,” replied Elena.
She wanted to conquer her fear. Ostrov winked at her insolently and said:
“Thank you most humbly. And who may you be?”
“Perhaps it is not necessary that you should know,” replied Elisaveta with a half-question.
Ostrov burst into laughter and said with unpleasant familiarity:
“It may not be necessary, but it would be interesting.”
The sisters walked on rapidly, but he did not desist. They thought him repulsive. There was something alarming in his obtrusiveness.
“You evidently live hereabouts, fair ladies,” continued Ostrov; “I will therefore venture to ask you what you know about Mr. Trirodov, who interests me immensely.”
Elena laughed, perhaps somewhat dissemblingly, in order to hide her agitation and fear.
“Perhaps we don’t live hereabouts,” she said.