“All right then, I’ll tell her. You see she herself is very bashful.⁠ ⁠… What a funny story! You see, for me she has only a pink-check affection, but for you!⁠ ⁠… And you, you did not even come to tell us how a fourth member sneaked into our triangle! Who is it? Repent, sinner! Come on!”

A curtain rose inside me; rustle of silk, green bottle, lips.⁠ ⁠… Without any reason whatever I exclaimed (oh, why didn’t I restrain myself at that moment?), “Tell me, R- , did you ever have the opportunity to try nicotine or alcohol?”

R- sucked in his lips, looked at me from under his brows. I distinctly heard his thoughts: “Friend though he is, yet.⁠ ⁠…” And he answered:

“What shall I say? Strictly speaking, no. But I know a woman.⁠ ⁠…”