"Yes," answered young Kalitine. "He went away from here to Odessa. Some one is said to have persuaded him to go there, and there he died."
"You don't happen to know if he left any music behind?"
"I don't know, but I should scarcely think so."
A general silence ensued, and each one of the party looked at the others. A shade of sadness swept over all the youthful faces.
"But Matros is alive," suddenly cried Lenochka.
"And Gedeonovsky is alive," added her brother.
The name of Gedeonovsky at once called forth a merry laugh.
"Yes, he is still alive; and he tells stories just as he used to do," continued the young Kalitine—"only fancy! this mad-cap here" (pointing to his wife's sister the Institute-girl) "put a quantity of pepper into his snuff-box yesterday."
"How he did sneeze!" exclaimed Lenochka—and irrepressible laughter again broke out on all sides.
"We had news of Liza the other day," said young Kalitine. And again silence fell upon all the circle. "She is going on well—her health is gradually being restored now."