“Don’t be disturbed on that account. I shall not have to pay. If my prophecy comes true, then you will pay me three hundred roubles, which would come in very conveniently.”
“What nonsense,” said Raisky, as he stood up and reached for his cap and stick.
“At the latest you will be in love in a fortnight. In a month you will be groaning, wandering about like a ghost, playing your part in a drama, or possibly in a tragedy, and ending, as all your like do, with some piece of folly. I know you, I can see through you.”
“But if, instead my falling in love with her, she were to fall in love with me....”
“Vera! with you!”
“Yes, Vera, with me.”
“Then I will find a double pledge, and bring it to you.”
“You are a madman!” said Raisky, and went without bestowing a further glance on Mark.
“In one month’s time I shall have won three hundred roubles,” Mark cried after him.
Raisky walked angrily home. “I wonder where our charmer is now,” he wondered gloomily. “Probably sitting on her favourite bench, admiring the view. I will see.” As he knew Vera’s habits, he could say with nearly complete certainty where she would be at any hour of the day. He went over to the precipice, and saw her, as he had thought, sitting on the bench with a book in her hand. Instead of reading she looked out, now over the Volga, now into the bushes. When she saw Raisky, she rose slowly and walked over to the old house. He signed to her to wait for him, but she either did not perceive the sign, or did not wish to do so. When she reached the courtyard she quickened her steps, and disappeared within the door of the old house.