Page:Sologub Sweet Scented Name.djvu/73

 "But where do you live?" asked she. "What do you do for a living? Where do you work?"

But Lohengrin made reply:

"Pardon me, Marya Constantìnovna, I cannot tell you anything about my address or my occupation."

"And why not?" asked Mashenka in wonder.

"Because, as I have already had the honour of telling you, Marya Constantìnovna, I have important reasons for keeping these matters a profound secret."

Mashenka thought for a moment or two and then said:

"But listen a moment. This is all very strange. At first I thought you were simply joking; but if you are in earnest, then it's all stranger than ever."

"I am not joking at all," said he; "but more than that I also trust that when you love me it will be for myself alone, not considering who I may be nor what is my occupation."

"And if I don't love you?" asked Mashenka with a smile.

"Then I shall vanish from the field of your vision," said he, "as Lohengrin did, when he floated away in that wonderful