Janina glanced at her in amazement.
"Ha! ha!" laughed the other quietly. "Ha! ha! she is a real moon-calf!"
After a moment she whispered, "Let us go to the dressing-room. I will enlighten you a little . . ."
She pulled Janina after her, and afterwards, busying herself with pinning a dress on a mannikin, she remarked, "We must get acquainted."
"Tell me, madam, how about that musical director?" asked Janina.
"It's necessary to buy him some cognac. Yes!" she added after a moment, "Cognac, beer, and sandwiches will, perhaps, be sufficient."
"How much would that cost?"
"I think that for three rubles you can give him a decent treat. Let me have the money and I will order everything for you. I had better go right away."
Janina gave her the money.
Sowinska left and in about a quarter of an hour returned, breathless.