"No, no, ... I cannot tell," said Albert frowning. "Even then I was poor. I hadn't any room; and when I went to the theatre, I sometimes used to sleep there." "What, in the theatre?" asked Delesof. "Ah! I am not afraid of these stupid things. Ah! just wait a moment. As soon as everybody was gone, I went to that box where she had been sitting, and slept there. That was my only pleasure. How many nights I spent there! Only once again did I have that experience. At night many things seemed to come to me. But I cannot tell you much about them." Albert contracted his brows, and looked at Delesof. "What did it mean?" he asked. "It was strange," replied the other. "No, wait, wait!" he bent over to his ear, and said in a whisper,-- "I kissed her hand, wept there before her, and said many things to her. I heard the fragrance of her sighs, I heard her voice. She said many things to me that one night. Then I took my violin, and began to play softly. And I played beautifully. But it became terrible to me. I am not afraid of such stupid things, and I don't believe in them, but my head felt terribly," he said, smiling sweetly, and moving his hand over his forehead. "It seemed terrible to me on account of my poor mind; something happened in my head. Maybe it was nothing; what do you think?" Neither spoke for several minutes. _"Und wenn die Wolken sie verhüllen, Die Sonne bleibt doch ewig klar._[54]" hummed Albert, smiling gently. "That is true, isn't it?" he asked. _"Ich auch habe gelebt und genossen."_[55] [Footnote 54: E'en though the clouds may veil it, The sun shines ever clear. ] [Footnote 55: I also have lived and rejoiced. ] "Ah, old man Petrof! how this would have made things clear to you!" Delesof, in silence and with dismay, looked at his companion's excited and colorless face. "Do you know the Juristen waltzes?" suddenly asked Albert in a loud voice, and without waiting for an answer, jumped up, seized the violin, and began to play the waltz. In absolute self-forgetfulness, and evidently imagining that a whole orchestra was playing for him, Albert smiled, began to dance, to shuffle his feet, and to play admirably. "Hey, we will have a good time!" he exclaimed, as he ended, and waved his violin. "I am going," said he, after sitting down in silence for a little. "Won't you come along too?" "Where?" asked Delesof in surprise. "Let us go to Anna Ivánovna's again. It's gay there,--bustle, people, music." Delesof for a moment was almost persuaded. However, coming to his senses, he promised Albert that he would go with him the next day. "I should like to go this minute." "Indeed, I wouldn't go." Albert sighed, and laid down the violin. "Shall I stay, then?" He looked over at the table, but the wine was gone; and so, wishing him a good-night, he left the room. Delesof rang. "Look here," said he to Zakhár, "don't let Mr. Albert go anywhere without asking me about it first." VI.