window.



Chapter III


"How do you do, Marya Dmitrievna?" cried the young man in a pleasant,
ringing voice. "How do you like my new purchase?"

Marya Dmitrievna went up to the window.

"How do you do, Woldemar! Ah, what a splendid horse! Where did you buy
it?"

"I bought it from the army contractor . . . . He made me pay for it
too, the brigand!"

"What's its name?"

"Orlando . . . . But it's a stupid name; I want to change . . . . Eh
bien, eh bien, mon garcon . . . . What a restless beast it is!"
The horse snorted, pawed the ground, and shook the foam off the bit.

"Lenotchka, stroke him, don't be afraid."

The little girl stretched her hand out of the window, but Orlando
suddenly reared and started. The rider with perfect self-possession gave
it a cut with the whip across the neck, and keeping a tight grip with
his legs forced it in spite of its opposition, to stand still again at