‘Going away? Where to?’
‘To his own country, to Bulgaria.’
‘To the Turks!’ cried Anna Vassilyevna and fell into a swoon.
Elena ran to her mother.
‘Away!’ clamoured Nikolai Artemyevitch, seizing his daughter by the arm, ‘away, unworthy girl!’
But at that instant the door of the room opened, and a pale face with glittering eyes appeared: it was the face of Shubin.
‘Nikolai Artemyevitch!’ he shouted at the top of his voice, ‘Augustina Christianovna is here and is asking for you!’
Nikolai Artemyevitch turned round infuriated, threatening Shubin with his fist; he stood still a minute and rapidly went out of the room.
Elena fell at her mother’s feet and embraced her knees.
* * *