Nadézhda Alexyéevna wanted to pursue her questions, but at that moment a young girl, the host’s daughter, led up to her Steltchínsky and another cavalier in blue spectacles.
“Life or death?”—she asked in French.
“Life,”—exclaimed Nadézhda Alexyéevna; “I don’t want death just yet.”
Steltchínsky bowed; she went off with him.[27]
The cavalier in the blue glasses, who was called Death, started off with the host’s daughter. Steltchínsky had invented the two designations.
“Tell me, please, who is that Mr. Steltchínsky?”—inquired Vladímir Sergyéitch of Nadézhda Alexyéevna, as soon as the latter returned to her place.
“He is attached to the Governor’s service, and is a very agreeable man. He does not belong in these parts. He is somewhat of a coxcomb, but that runs in the blood of all of them. I hope you have not had any explanations with him on account of the mazurka?”
“None whatever, I assure you,”—replied Vladímir Sergyéitch, with a little hesitation.
“I’m such a forgetful creature! You can’t imagine!”