The Chorus Girl and Other Stories

ONE day when she was younger and better-looking and when her voice was stronger Nikolay Petrovitch Kolpakov her adorer was sitting in the outer room in her summer villa. It was intolerably hot and stifling. Kolpakov who had just dined and drunk a whole bottle of inferior port felt ill-humoured and out of sorts. Both were bored and waiting for the heat of the day to be over in order to go for a walk. All at once there was a sudden ring at the door. Kolpakov who was sitting with his coat off in his slippers jumped up and looked inquiringly at Pasha.