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oney for nothing。〃
He put on his goloshes and cloak； and then slowly tied a scarf about his neck。 To think that he could care about such trifles after what had just happened to me！ To him it was all a mere stroke of the pen； but to me it meant the direst misfortune。
〃Is the lesson over？〃 asked St。 Jerome； entering。
〃Yes。〃
〃And was the master pleased with you？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃How many marks did he give you？〃
〃Five。〃
〃And to Nicholas？〃
I was silent。
〃I think four；〃 said Woloda。 His idea was to save me for at least today。 If punishment there must be； it need not be awarded while we had guests。
〃Voyons； Messieurs！〃 （St。 Jerome was forever saying 〃Voyons！〃） 〃Faites votre toilette； et descendons。〃
XII。 THE KEY
We had hardly descended and greeted our guests when luncheon was announced。 Papa was in the highest of spirits since for some time past he had been winning。 He had presented Lubotshka with a silver tea service； and suddenly remembered； after luncheon； that he had forgotten a box of bonbons which she was to have too。
〃Why send a servant for it？ YOU had better go； Koko；〃 he said to me jestingly。 〃The keys are in the tray on the table； you know。 Take them； and with the largest one open the second drawer on the right。 There you will find the box of bonbons。 Bring it here。〃
〃Shall I get you some cigars as well？〃 said I； knowing that he always smoked after luncheon。
〃Yes； do； but don't touch anything else。〃
I found the keys； and was about to carry out my orders； when I was seized with a desire to know what the smallest of the keys on the bunch belonged to。
On the table I saw； among many other things； a padlocked portfolio； and at once felt curious to see if that was what the key fitted。 My experiment was crowned with success。 The portfolio opened and disclosed a number of papers。 Curiosity so strongly urged me also to ascertain what those papers contained that the voice of conscience was stilled； and I began to read their contents。 。 。 。
My childish feeling of unlimited respect for my elders； especially for Papa； was so strong within me that my intellect involuntarily refused to draw any conclusions from what I had seen。 I felt that Papa was living in a sphere completely apart from； incomprehensible by； and unattainable for； me； as well as one that was in every way excellent； and that any attempt on my part to criticise the secrets of his life would constitute something like sacrilege。
For this reason； the discovery which I made from Papa's portfolio left no clear impression upon my mind； but only a dim consciousness that I had done wrong。 I felt ashamed and confused。
The feeling made me eager to shut the portfolio again as quickly as possible； but it seemed as though on this unlucky day I was destined to experience every possible kind of adversity。 I put the key back into the padlock and turned it round； but not in the right direction。 Thinking that the portfolio was now locked； I pulled at the key and； oh horror！ found my hand come away with only the top half of the key in it！ In vain did I try to put the two halves together； and to extract the portion that was sticking in the padlock。 At last I had to resign myself to the dreadful thought that I had committed a new crime one which would be discovered to…day as soon as ever Papa returned to his study！ First of all； Mimi's accusation on the staircase； and then that one mark； and then this key！ Nothing worse could happen now。 This very evening I should be assailed successively by Grandmamma （because of Mimi's denunciation）； by St。 Jerome （because of the solitary mark）； and by Papa （because of the matter of this key） yes； all in one evening！
〃What on earth is to become of me？ What have I done？〃 I exclaimed as I paced the soft carpet。 〃Well；〃 I went on with sudden determination； 〃what MUST come； MUSTthat's all；〃 and； taking up the bonbons and the cigars； I ran back to the other part of the house。
The fatalistic formula with which I had concluded （and which was one that I often heard Nicola utter during my childhood） always produced in me； at the more difficult crises of my life； a momentarily soothing； beneficial effect。 Consequently； when I re… entered the drawing…room； I was in a rather excited； unnatural mood； yet one that was perfectly cheerful。
XIII。 THE TRAITRESS
After luncheon we began to play at round games； in which I took a lively part。 While indulging in 〃cat and mouse〃； I happened to cannon rather awkwardly against the Kornakoffs' governess； who was playing with us； and； stepping on her dress； tore a large hole in it。 Seeing that the girlsparticularly Sonetchkawere anything but displeased at the spectacle of the governess angrily departing to the maidservants' room to have her dress mended； I resolved to procure them the satisfaction a second time。 Accordingly； in pursuance of this amiable resolution； I waited until my victim returned； and then began to gallop madly round her； until a favourable moment occurred for once more planting my heel upon her dress and reopening the rent。 Sonetchka and the young princesses had much ado to restrain their laughter； which excited my conceit the more； but St。 Jerome； who had probably divined my tricks； came up to me with the frown which I could never abide in him； and said that； since I seemed disposed to mischief； he would have to send me away if I did not moderate my behaviour。
However； I was in the desperate position of a person who； having staked more than he has in his pocket； and feeling that he can never make up his account； continues to plunge on unlucky cards not because he hopes to regain his losses； but because it will not do for him to stop and consider。 So； I merely laughed in an impudent fashion and flung away from my monitor。
After 〃cat and mouse〃； another game followed in which the gentlemen sit on one row of chairs and the ladies on another； and choose each other for partners。 The youngest princess always chose the younger Iwin； Katenka either Woloda or Ilinka； and Sonetchka Seriosha nor； to my extreme astonishment； did Sonetchka seem at all embarrassed when her cavalier went and sat down beside her。 On the contrary； she only laughed her sweet； musical laugh； and made a sign with her head that he had chosen right。 Since nobody chose me； I always had the mortification of finding myself left over； and of hearing them say； 〃Who has been left out？ Oh； Nicolinka。 Well； DO take him； somebody。〃 Consequently； whenever it came to my turn to guess who had chosen me； I had to go either to my sister or to one of the ugly elder princesses。 Sonetchka seemed so absorbed in Seriosha that in her eyes I clearly existed no longer。 I do not quite know why I called her 〃the traitress〃 in my thoughts； since she had never promised to choose me instead of Seriosha； but； for all that； I felt convinced that she was treating me in a very abominable fashion。 After the game was finished； I actually saw 〃the traitress〃 （from whom I nevertheless could not withdraw my eyes） go with Seriosha and Katenka into a corner； and engage in secret confabulation。 Stealing softly round the piano which masked the conclave； I beheld the following：
Katenka was holding up a pocket…handk