The Torrents Of Spring

faith in its pressure. What sort of a woman I am, I don’t know; but I’m an
honest fellow, and one can do business with me.’
Sanin, without knowing very well what he was doing, lifted the hand
to his lips. Maria Nikolaevna softly took it, and was suddenly still, and
did not speak again till the carriage stopped.
She began getting out… . What was it? Sanin’s fancy? or did he really
feel on his cheek a swift burning kiss?
‘Till to-morrow!’ whispered Maria Nikolaevna on the steps, in the
light of the four tapers of a candelabrum, held up on her appearance by
the gold-laced door-keeper. She kept her eyes cast down. ‘Till tomorrow!’
When he got back to his room, Sanin found on the table a letter from
Gemma. He felt a momentary dismay, and at once made haste to rejoice
over it to disguise his dismay from himself. It consisted of a few lines.
She was delighted at the ‘successful opening of negotiations,’ advised
him to be patient, and added that all at home were well, and were
already rejoicing at the prospect of seeing him back again. Sanin felt the
letter rather stiff, he took pen and paper, however … and threw it all
aside again. ‘Why write? I shall be back myself to-morrow … it’s high
time!’
He went to bed immediately, and tried to get to sleep as quickly as
possible. If he had stayed up and remained on his legs, he would certainly
have begun thinking about Gemma, and he was for some reason
… ashamed to think of her. His conscience was stirring within him.
But he consoled himself with the reflection that to-morrow it would all
be over for ever, and he would take leave for good of this feather-brained
lady, and would forget all this rotten idiocy!…
Weak people in their mental colloquies, eagerly make use of strong
expressions.
Et puis … cela ne tire pas à consequence!
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