Part 9 (1/2)
”What sort of cavern?”
”The devil only knows! They say that once it was a coiners' den. As usual they were all caught. Rather hard lines, wasn't it?” said Ivanoff.
”Perhaps you'd like to start a business of that sort yourself and manufacture sham twenty-copeck pieces?” asked Novikoff.
”Copecks? Not I! Roubles, my friend, roubles!”
”H--m!” muttered Sarudine, shrugging his shoulders. He did not like Ivanoff, whose jokes to him were unintelligible.
”Yes, they were all caught, and the cave was filled up; it gradually collapsed, and no one ever goes into it now. As a child I often used to creep in there. It is a most interesting place.”
”Interesting? I should rather think so!” exclaimed Lida.
”Victor Sergejevitsch, suppose you go in? You're one of the brave ones.”
”Why?” asked Sarudine, somewhat perplexed.
”I'll go!” exclaimed Yourii, blus.h.i.+ng to think that the others would accuse him of showing off.
”It's a wonderful place!” said Ivanoff by way of encouragement.
”Aren't you going too?” asked Novikoff.
”No, I'd rather stop here!”
At this they all laughed.
The boat drew near the bank and a wave of cold air from the cavern pa.s.sed over their heads.
”For heaven's sake, Yourii, don't do such a silly thing!” said Lialia, trying to dissuade her brother. ”It really is silly of you!”
”Silly? Of course it is.” Yourii, smiling, a.s.sented. ”s.e.m.e.noff, just give me that candle, will you?”
”Where shall I find it?”
”There is one behind you, in the hamper.”
s.e.m.e.noff coolly produced the candle.
”Are you really going?” asked a tall girl, magnificently proportioned.
Lialia called her Sina, her surname being Karsavina.
”Of course I am. Why not?” replied Yourii, striving to show utter indifference. He recollected having done this when engaged in some of his political adventures. The thought for some reason or other was not an agreeable one.
The entrance to the cavern was damp and dark. ”Brrr!” exclaimed Sanine, as he looked in. To him it seemed absurd that Yourii should explore a disagreeable, dangerous place simply because others watched him doing it. Yourii, as self-conscious as ever, lighted the candle, thinking inwardly, ”I am making myself rather ridiculous, am I not?” But so far from seeming ridiculous, he won admiration, especially from the ladies, who were in an agreeable state of curiosity bordering on alarm. He waited till the candle burnt more brightly and then, laughing to avoid being laughed at, disappeared in the darkness. The light seemed to have vanished, also. They all suddenly felt concern for his safety and intense curiosity as to what would happen.
”Look out for wolves!” cried Riasantzeff.
”It's all right. I've got a revolver!” came the answer. It sounded faint and weird.