“What on earth do you mean?” exclaimed Yourii.
“The third catastrophe is my own invention, just to heighten the effect; but as regards the other two, the news is correct. Sarudine shot himself last night, and I have just heard that Soloveitchik has committed suicide by hanging.”
“Impossible!” cried Lialia, jumping up. Her eyes expressed horror and intense curiosity.
Yourii hurriedly laid aside his palette, and approached Ivanoff.
“You’re not joking?”
“No, indeed.”
As usual, he put on an air of philosophic indifference, yet evidently he was much shocked at what had happened.
“Why did he shoot himself? Because Sanine struck him?”
“Does Sanine know?” asked Lialia anxiously.
“Yes. Sanine heard about it last night,” replied Ivanoff.