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In the narrow and untidy passage of the lodge, which I entered with an involuntary trerey-headed servant with a dark copper-coloured face, surly little pig's eyes, and such deep furrows on his forehead and te a plate containing the spine of a herring that had been gnawed at; and shutting the door that led into the room with his foot, he jerked out, 'What do you want?'

'Is the Princess Zasyekin at ho female voice screamed from within

Theas he did so the extremely threadbare hindpart of his livery with a solitary reddish heraldic button on it; he put the plate down on the floor, and went away

'Did you go to the police station?' the sa in reply 'Eh Has soentleman from next door Ask hi-roo his appearance onceup the plate fro-room

I foundsome poor furniture that looked as if it had been hurriedly set dohere it stood At thein an easy-chair with a broken arly, in an old green dress, and a striped worsted wrap about her neck Her small black eyes fixed me like pins

I went up to her and bowed

'I have the honour of addressing the Princess Zasyekin?'

'I am the Princess Zasyekin; and you are the son of Mr V?'

'Yes I have coe from my mother'

'Sit down, please Vonifaty, where are my keys, have you seen them?'

I communicated to Madame Zasyekinwith her fat red fingers on the -pane, and when I had finished, she stared at ood; I'll be sure to co you are! How old are you, may I ask?'

'Sixteen,' I replied, with an involuntary stareasy papers covered riting, raised theh them