"Now, Madame," insisted Minchukov, "you must put at least a handkerchief on your chest and back." "Suppose my handkerchief's dirty?" said Grushina with a vulgar laugh. But Minchukov insisted: "As you please, Madame; but if you don't cover yourself a little, you'll have to go." Grumbling violently, Grushina went into the dressing-room and with the help of the attendant rearranged the folds of her dress across her chest and back. When she returned to the hall, though she looked more modest, she just as zealously sought for admirers. She flirted vulgarly with any man. Then when people's attention was elsewhere she went into the refreshment-room to steal sweets. Soon she returned to the hall, and showing Volodin a couple of peaches, smiled impudently and said: "I got them myself!" And immediately the peaches were hidden in the folds of her costume. Volodin's face lit up with joy. "Well," he said, "if so, I'll go too." Soon Grushina got tipsy and began to behave boisterously--she shouted, waved her arms and spat. "Dianka's getting very happy!" everyone said about her. Such was the masked ball to which the foolish girls had enticed the scatter-brained schoolboy. The three sisters and Sasha took two cabs and arrived rather late, on his account. Their arrival in the hall was noticed. The Geisha particularly pleased many people. The rumour went round that the Geisha was Kashtanova, the actress, very popular with the male portion of local society. And that was why Sasha received a large number of cards. But in fact Kashtanova was not there, for her little boy had fallen dangerously ill. Sasha, intoxicated by his new situation, coquetted furiously. The more they stuck their cards into the Geisha's little hand, the more gaily and provokingly gleamed the eyes of the coquettish Geisha through the narrow slits of the mask. The Geisha curtsied, lifted her small fingers, laughed in an intimate tone, waved her fan, struck first one man and then another on the shoulder, then hid her face behind her fan and frequently opened out her rose parasol. However, these not over-graceful actions attracted many who admired the actress Kashtanova. "I will give my card to the most beautiful of ladies," said Tishkov, and handed his card to the Geisha with a gallant bow. He had taken a good deal to drink and his face was flushed; his motionlessly smiling face and awkward figure made him look like a doll. And he kept continually rhyming. Valeria looked on at Sasha's success, and felt envious and annoyed; she now wanted to be recognised and to have her costume and slender, graceful figure please the crowd, and be awarded the prize. And now she sadly thought that this was not possible, as all the three sisters had agreed to get cards only for the Geisha, and even to give their own to her. They were dancing in the hall. Volodin got tipsy very soon and began to dance the "squat" dance. The police stopped him. He said cheerfully and obediently: