“Well? What have you decided on?”
Nejdanov shrugged his shoulders.
“I’ve already told you, dear, that we’ve decided nothing as yet; we must wait a little longer.”
“But why?”
“Those were our last instructions.” (“I’m lying,” Nejdanov thought to himself.)
“From whom?”
“Why, you know ... from Vassily Nikolaevitch. And then we must wait until Ostrodumov comes back.”
Mariana looked questioningly at Nejdanov. “But tell me, have you ever seen this Vassily Nikolaevitch?”
“Yes. I’ve seen him twice ... for a minute or two.”
“What is he like? Is he an extraordinary man?”