"Have you found the envelope?" she asked.
"Vara tells me she burnt it."
Vershina laughed, and the white, thin clouds of tobacco smoke wavered before her in the quiet, cool air.
"It's strange," she said, "that your cousin is so careless. Here's an important letter—and no envelope! You might have been able to tell from the post-mark when it was sent and where from."
Peredonov was extremely irritated. In vain Vershina invited him into the garden; in vain she promised to look in the cards for him—Peredonov left.
Nevertheless, he showed the letter to his friends and boasted. And his friends believed him.
But Peredonov did not know whether to believe or not. At all events, he decided to begin on Tuesday his round of visits to important personages in the town to strengthen his position. He decided not to begin on Monday, as it was an unlucky day.
[1] Sarafan, national peasant-woman's costume.
[2] See [note 2 ch. V]