Count Scherbatcheff helped Lushington to take off his overcoat and hung it from a nail that was already supporting the picture of a saint. He pulled forward a settee and said:

“Sit down. Can you give me a cigarette? I cannot offer you one. There are never any cigarettes in this house. If I get any my uncle puts them in his pocket and becomes angry if any of us ask for one. Later we will have some tea. ”

He did not introduce Lushington to any of the people in the room. No one took any notice of them. The girl with the plaits changed from scales to five-finger exercises and then stopped and altered the height of the music stool, after which she went on again. Count Scherbatcheff said:

“You will agree that there come moments when a man feels that he can stand no more? I know that you are fortunate. You are English. You have at least a profession which is not too uncongenial. But you will understand how it is sometimes with me? ”

Lushington looked into the middle distance of the room where, through the shadows, he could still see a high-light on the glazed surface of the unknown man’s head. He wondered whether or not this man was the uncle who always filled his pockets with cigarettes. And then remembering that Count Scherbatcheff required an answer he said something about Russians having lost so much. Count Scherbatcheff said:

“No. It is not that. I used to feel the same when I was in the Corps of Pages. If anything, worse. It is just depression, as you call it. And this damned cough. ”

“I can sympathize. ”

“And then relations — relations — relations. ”

“Yes? ”

“You see what I mean? ”

One of the reasons why the room was so hot was because brown paper had been pasted over the cracks of the windows. In addition to the main stove of the room a small oil-stove had been placed in the corner near the very old woman. This smaller stove smoked menacingly. The very old woman now shut her book with a snap and, throwing down her rug almost on top of the oil-stove, began to move across the room. Lushington got up to let her pass. Count Scherbatcheff said:

“That is my grandmother about whom I have spoken to you. You remember? Her obstinacy. But do not be alarmed. She speaks little English and besides she is deaf. There is no need for discretion. As I was saying to you, at times matters are indeed impossible. ”

“Can I help? ”

“As you know, I am an engineer. But what have I to look forward to as an engineer? Shall I live for ever with these people in this room? Yet when I was young and was to enter the Chevalier Guards I was the same. I thought always of the interminable round of tiresome social engagements and the tedious duties of regimental life that were before me. I could see no way out. I tell you this that you may understand that it is not merely my adversity that causes these sentiments. ”

“Anything special at the moment? ”

“Yes,” said Count Scherbatcheff. “Perhaps it is something special. I have been feeling it more than usual. For a longer time. I will tell you. It is Madame Mavrin. ”

“What about her? ”

“I have thought of her ever since we were together on board the ship. It is impossible for me to see her. What can I do if I did see her? It is clear that she does not like me. That is one of the reasons why I feel as I do. ”

“Certainly that makes things difficult. ”