I am always beaten by a hostile atmosphere.
To-day I was at my worst, and soon we were talking like a couple of the
merest strangers.
She asked me whether I had heard that there were very serious
disturbances on the other side of the river.
"I was on the Nevski early this afternoon," I said, "and I saw about
twenty Cossacks go galloping down towards the Neva. I asked somebody and
was told that some women had broken into the bakers' shops on Vassily
Ostrov...."
"It will end as they always end," said Vera. "Some arrests and a few
people beaten, and a policeman will get a medal."
There was a long pause. "I went to 'Masquerade' the other night," I
said.
"I hear it's very good...."
"Pretentious and rather vulgar--but amusing all the same."
"Every one's talking about it and trying to get seats...."
"Yes. Meyerhold must be pleased."
"They discuss it much more than they do the war, or even politics. Every
one's tired of the war."
I said nothing. She continued:
"So I suppose we shall just go on for years and years.... And then the
Empress herself will be tired one day and it will suddenly stop.
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