Page:The Novels of Ivan Turgenev (volume VII).djvu/77

Rh The latter began by thanking him warmly for consenting to stay the night.

'I know it's a sacrifice for you.'

'0h, nonsense!' Solomin responded in his deliberate tones; 'much of a sacrifice! Besides, I can't say no to you.'

'Why so?'

'Oh, because I like you.'

Nezhdanov was delighted and astounded, while Solomin pressed his hand. Then he seated himself astride on a chair, lighted a cigar, and, with both elbows on the chair-back, he observed, 'Come, tell me what's the matter.'

Nezhdanov, too, seated himself astride on a chair facing Solomin, but he did not light a cigar.

'What's the matter, you ask? The matter is that I want to run away from here.'

'That is, you want to leave this house? Well, what of it? Good luck to you!'

'Not to leave but to run away.'

'Why? do they detain you? You perhaps you've received some salary in advance? If so, you need only say the word. I should be delighted.'

'You don't understand me, my dear Solomin. I said, run away—not leave—because I'm not going away from here alone.'

Solomin raised his head.