“Why not, Jennechka? I’ll go further than that. Out of us scarcely, scarcely one in a thousand has committed abortion. But all of you several times over. What? Or isn’t that the truth? And those of you who’ve done this, did it not out of desperation or cruel poverty, but you simply were afraid of spoiling your figure and beauty—that’s your sole capital! Or else you’ve been seeking only beastly carnal pleasure, while pregnancy and feeding interfered with your giving yourself up to it!” Rovinskaya became confused and uttered in a quick whisper: “Faites attention, baronne, que dans sa position cette demoiselle est instruite.”[13] [13] “Pay attention, baroness, the girl is rather educated for one of her position.” “Figurez-vous, que moi, j’ai aussi remarque cet etrange visage. Comme si je l’ai deja vu ... est-ce en reve? ... en demi-delire? Ou dans sa petite enfance?”[14] [14] “Just imagine, I, too, have remarked this strange face. But where have I seen it ... was it in a dream? ... in semi-delirium? Or in her early infancy?” “Ne vous donnez pas la peine de chercher dans vos souvenirs, baronne,” Tamara suddenly interposed insolently. “Je puis de suite vous venir aide. Rappelez-vous seulement Kharkoff, et la chambre d’hotel de Koniakine, l’entrepreneur Solovieitschik, et le tenor di grazzia ... A ce moment vous n’etiez pas encore m-me la baronne de ... [15] However, let’s drop the French tongue ... You were a common chorus girl and served together with me.” [15] “Don’t trouble to strain your memory, baroness. I will come to your aid at once. Just recall Kharkov, a room in Koniakine’s hotel, the theatrical manager, Solovieitschik, and a certain lyrical tenor ... At that time you were not yet baroness de ...” “Mais, dites-moi, au nom de dieu, comment vous trouvez vous ici, Mademoiselle Marguerite.”[16] [16] “But tell me, in God’s name, how you have come to be here, Mademoiselle Marguerite?” “Oh, they ask us about that every day. I just up and came to be here ...” And with an inimitable cynicism she asked: “I trust you will pay for the time which we have passed with you?” “No, may the devil take you!” suddenly shouted out Little White Manka, quickly getting up from the rug. And suddenly, pulling two gold pieces out of her stocking, she flung them upon the table. “There, you! .. I’m giving you that for a cab. Go away right now, otherwise I’ll break up all the mirrors and bottles here...” Rovinskaya got up and said with sincere, warm tears in her eyes: “Of course, we’ll go away, and the lesson of Mlle. Marguerite will prove of benefit to us. Your time will be paid for—take care of it, Volodya. Still, you sang so much for us, that you must allow me to sing for you as well.” Rovinskaya went up to the piano, took a few chords, and suddenly began to sing the splendid ballad of Dargomyzhsky: