Three days passed by. I was sitting in my room at my writing-table, and not so much working as getting myself ready for lunch. . . I heard a rustle, lifted my head, and I was stupefied. Before me—rigid, terrible, white as chalk, stood an apparition . . . Punin. His half-closed eyes were looking at me, blinking slowly; they expressed a senseless terror, the terror of a frightened hare, and his arms hung at his sides like sticks.
'Nikander Vavilitch! what is the matter with you? How did you come here? Did no one see you? What has happened? Do speak!'
'She has run away,' Punin articulated in a hoarse, hardly audible voice.
'What do you say?'
'She has run away,' he repeated.
'Who?'
'Musa. She went away in the night, and left a note.'
'A note?'
'Yes. "I thank you," she said, "but I am not coming back again. Don't look for me." We ran up and down; we questioned the cook; she knew nothing. I can't speak loud; you must excuse me. I've lost my voice.'
'Musa Pavlovna has left you!' I exclaimed.
'Nonsense! Mr. Baburin must be in despair. What does he intend to do now?'
'He has no intention of doing anything. I
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