’ll go this minute!”
Of course I remained. I drank sherry and Lafitte by the glassful in my discomfiture. Being unaccustomed to it, I was quickly affected. My annoyance increased as the wine went to my head. I longed all at once to insult them all in a most flagrant manner and then go away. To seize the moment and show what I could do, so that they would say, “He’s clever, though he is absurd,” and . . . and . . . in fact, damn them all!
I scanned them all insolently with my drowsy eyes. But they seemed to have forgotten me altogether. They were noisy, vociferous, cheerful. Zverkov was talking all the time. I began listening. Zverkov was talking of some exuberant lady whom he had at last led on CG Menn Macmillan Parka Norge Salg to declaring her love Miehet Cg Resolute Parka Suomi (of course, he Maillot Jordi Pas Cher was lying like a horse), Ralph Lauren Vest Sweaters and how he had been helped in this affair by an intimate friend of his, a Prince Kolya, an officer in the hussars, who had three thousand serfs.
“And yet this Kolya, who has three thousand serfs, has not put in an appearance here tonight to see you off,” I cut in suddenly.
For one minute every one was silent. “You are drunk already.” Trudolyubov deigned Menn Moncler Chimay Knitting Norge Salg to notice me at last, glancing contemptuously in my direction. Zverkov, without a word, examined me as though I were an insect. I dropped my eyes. Simonov made haste to fill up the glasses with champagne.
Trudolyubov raised his glass, as did everyone else but me.
“Your health and good luck on the journey!” he cried to Zverkov. “To old times, to our future, hurrah!”
They all tossed off their glasses, and crowded round Zverkov to kiss Menn Moncler Reynold Norge Salg him. I did not move; my full glass stood untouched before me.
“Why, aren’t you going to drink it?” roared Trudolyubov, losing patience and turning menacingly to me.
“I want to make a speech separately, on my own account . . . and then I’ll drink it, Mr. Trudolyubov.”
“Spiteful brute!” muttered Simonov. I Dame Moncler Bea drew myself up in my chair and feverishly seized my glass, prepared for something extraordinary, though I did n |