"Aha! I see how it is!" said Sanine gravely.
"Thank God, and be happy."
He was about to say something else, but sneezed loudly instead.
"It's damp out here. Mind you don't catch cold," he added, rubbing his
eyes.
Lida laughed. The echo of her voice across the river Hounded charming.
"I must go," said Sanine, after a pause.
"Where are you going?" asked Novikoff.
"Svarogitsch and that officer who admires Tolstoi, what's his name? a
lanky German fellow, have called for me."
"You mean Von Deitz," said Lida, laughing.
"That's the man. They wanted us all to come with them to a meeting, but
I said that you were not at home."
"Why did you do that?" asked Lida, still laughing; "we might have gone,
too."
"No, you stop here," replied Sanine. "If I had anybody to keep me
company, I should do the same."
With that he left them.
Night came on apace, and the first trembling star were mirrored in the
swiftly flowing stream.