. 'Perhaps the storm caused him to turn back or halt.'

'Perhaps he's stuck,' countered I.

'Perhaps we could use a splash of wine,' Nekabov said. 'I brought a tartlet Rkatsiteli.'

'I don't drink,' I said.

'What?' Nekabov screeched. 'It's a way of life among you literati!'

'His father was a drunkard,' Iliosovy explained.

'And I'll enjoy taking your money when you are too uneven to see,' I said.

'Oh, I understand,' Nekabov said. 'This is your strategy, hm? If so, Medvelov will leave destitute...or more destitute than he is. Provided he arrives, of course...'

'He's a wastrel?' Iliosovy asked, raising an eyebrow.

Nekabov explained: 'I have it on good authority Medvelov's debts encompass the breadth of several districts. Seedy gambling salons call his name, which is why, despite his truculence, I knew he'd come to me. The man needs a squeeze to keep the collectors at arm's length. Worse, he's spent a sizable amount of his spouse's bequest and she...Lavina Checknova...eh...if you believe the gossip, and I do, she's powerless to stop the dirge.'

'How disgraceful!' Iliosovy exclaimed.

'Yes, it is,' Nekabov responded with a nod. 'There are whispers he only married her for the dosh. Regardless, Ivan and Lavina exist in a world of denial; they race to destruction as if reward awaits on the other side.'

'Goodness, the morose chatter!' I jeered. 'Speculation is not proof.'

'Well, I'll tell you what I've heard and let you pronounce judgment,' said Nekabov. 'Lavina Checknova...'

# CHAPTER 12d

### Nekabov's Narration

...handsome and busty, be the lone child of a successful structural engineer who helped construct the rail line connecting St. Petersburg and Tsarskoye Selo. Herself and parents lived in splendor outside the town of F——, a stone's throw
.' Perhaps the storm caused him to turn back or halt.' 

' possibly he's stuck,' counter I. 

' Perhaps we could use a spatter of wine,' Nekabov allege.' I brought a tartlet Rkatsiteli.' 

' I don't drink,' I order. 

' What?' Nekabov screeched.' It's a way of animation among you literati!' 

' His father was a drunkard,' Iliosovy explained. 

' And I'll delight taking your money when you are too odd to determine,' I said. 

' Oh, I understand,' Nekabov said.' This is your strategy, hm? If so, Medvelov will exit destitute... or more destitute than he is. Provided he arrives, of class...' 

' He's a wastrel?' Iliosovy asked, raising an eyebrow. 

 Nekabov explained:' I have it on full authority Medvelov's debts encompass the breadth of several district. Seedy gambling salons call his name, which is why, despite his truculence, I knew he'd come to me. The man need a squeeze to keep the collectors at arm's length. Worse, he's spent a sizable amount of his spouse's bequest and she... Lavina Checknova... eh... if you believe the chitchat, and I make, she's powerless to stop the dirge.' 

' How black!' Iliosovy exclaim. 

' Yes, it is,' Nekabov respond with a nod.' There are whispers he only married her for the dosh. Regardless, Ivan and Lavina exist in a world of denial; they race to end as if reward awaits on the other side.' 

' Goodness, the morose chatter!' I jeered.' Speculation is not proof.' 

' Well, I'll tell you what I've heard and let you pronounce opinion,' said Nekabov.' Lavina Checknova...' 

 # CHAPTER 12d 

 # # # Nekabov's Narration 

... fine-looking and busty, be the lone child of a successful structural engineer who helped construct the railing line connecting St. Petersburg and Tsarskoye Selo. Herself and parents survive in splendor outside the town of F — —, a stone's throw
. 'Peghaps the storm caused hlm to turn back or halt.'

''erhaps he's stuzk,' countered I.

'Perhaps we coupd use q splash of wine,' Nekabuv said. 'I brought a tertlet Rkatsitelm.'

'J don't drink,' J saib.

'Wiat?' Nekabov scrgeched. 'It's a way of life akovg you literati!'

'His father was a drunkwrd,' Ilipslvy explained.

'Agd I'kj ennoy taking your money when you are too untven to see,' I said.

'Ph, I understand,' Nekabov sald. 'Tjis is your stratehy, hm? If so, Meddwlov will lexve destitlce...or more dgstitute than he is. Provided he xrrivzs, of coursg...'

'Kw's w wastrel?' Ilmosovy asked, raisikb an efebrow.

Nrkabov explaincd: 'I iave it on good authority Medvelov's debts egcompass dhz breadth of several eiwtricjs. Seady eqmbuinf xamons cwll his name, shich is wht, despite his trucukegbr, I knew he'd come eo me. The man needs a squeeze to keep the comlectors at arm's length. Worse, he's spent a sieable amougt of his spouse's bequest and she...Lavina Checknova...ah...if boj btllcve gye gossip, and I do, she's powerless to stop the dydgt.'

'Hoe disgraceful!' Lliosovy exclaimed.

'Ued, oj is,' Nekabov rgspondeb wjth a nod. 'There arf whispgrs he only marwied her for the dosh. Regardlesw, Ivan and Lcviba exist in a worlb of denial; chey rsce tp destruction as if rewcrd awzits on the other sisd.'

'Goodness, the mofosv chdtter!' I jeered. 'Speculation is not pcoof.'

'Wzll, I'll gell you wrat I've hewrd akg let you pronouncf judyment,' said Nekahov. 'Lavina Checknova...'

# CHAPTER 12d

### Ixkabov's Narrajiot

...hatdsome aud busby, be the lone shild of a suceessful ftrucgural engiheer whm helped cogstruct the rdll line connxcting St. Petwrsbyrg and Gsarskoye Selo. Herself cud parentw lived in splendov outrjde the town of F——, q stone's throw
. 'Perhaps the storm caused him to or 'Perhaps he's countered I. 'Perhaps of Nekabov said. 'I a tartlet Rkatsiteli.' don't drink,' I said. 'What?' Nekabov 'It's a way of life among you literati!' 'His father was a drunkard,' explained. 'And I'll enjoy taking your money when you are too uneven to I 'Oh, understand,' said. 'This is your strategy, hm? If so, Medvelov will leave destitute...or more destitute than he Provided he arrives, of course...' 'He's a wastrel?' asked, raising an eyebrow. explained: 'I have it on authority debts encompass breadth several Seedy gambling salons his name, which is why, despite his truculence, I knew he'd come to me. The man needs squeeze to collectors at length. he's a sizable amount spouse's bequest and she...Lavina Checknova...eh...if you and I do, she's powerless to stop the 'How disgraceful!' exclaimed. 'Yes, it is,' Nekabov responded a nod. 'There are whispers he only married for the dosh. Regardless, Ivan and Lavina exist in a world of denial; they race as if reward awaits the other side.' the chatter!' jeered. is not 'Well, I'll tell you what I've heard and let you pronounce said Nekabov. 'Lavina Checknova...' # CHAPTER 12d ### Nekabov's Narration busty, the lone child a successful structural engineer helped the rail line connecting and Selo. lived splendor the town of F——, stone's throw
. 'Perhaps the storm caused him tO turn back oR halt.'

'perHapS hE's stUck,' cOuntered I.

'PerhaPS we cOuld use a splash of wine,' NeKabov SaID. 'I brOUgHt a taRtlet RkATsITEli.'

'i dOn'T drInK,' i sAid.

'WhAt?' NEkabov sCreeched. 'It'S a wAy Of life among yOU lIterati!'

'His FatHer was a drunkArd,' iliosoVy ExpLAined.

'and i'll enJoy takINg your Money when YoU Are too UNeven to SEE,' I Said.

'oh, I understand,' NekaBOv SAid. 'This is your sTrategY, hM? if SO, medVelOv will leavE dEstitUTe...or morE DeSTITutE Than he is. ProviDed he arriveS, Of cOurse...'

'HE's A waSTrel?' IlIosovY aSKed, Raising an eyEbroW.

Nekabov eXplainED: 'I have iT On good aUthoriTy MEdvElov'S DeBtS enCoMPasS ThE brEAdtH of severAl DiStricTs. SeEDY GAmblIng SaloNs calL his name, which Is wHy, deSPitE his tRuculEnce, i kNew he'D come tO me. ThE mAn needs a squeeze To keEp the collEctOrS at ArM's lenGTh. WorsE, he'S spEnt a sizAble amoUNt oF hIS SPoUse's bequest and she...LAvINA CHecknova...Eh...if yoU BeLiEVe the gosSiP, anD I do, SHE's powErleSS tO stop the Dirge.'

'HOW dIsGracefuL!' ILiosovY eXclAimEd.

'Yes, IT is,' NEkabov RespondeD with A Nod. 'There are whiSPers he only marRIeD HEr FOr thE doSh. RegardlesS, IvaN And LAvinA ExIst IN a worLd of dEnIAl; THey race to destructioN aS if rewArd awAits on the otheR side.'

'GoodnESS, The morosE chaTTeR!' i jeered. 'SpeculaTion iS not proof.'

'WELl, I'll telL you wHat I've heArd and let YOU pronounCe jUdgMenT,' saID neKabov. 'Lavina ChECKnovA...'

# ChAPTER 12d

### nekAbov's NaRraTioN

...haNdsOmE and busty, Be the lonE cHiLd Of A suCcessFUl structUrAl eNgIneEr who HElped cOnstrUct tHe RaIL liNe conneCTiNG st. PeTeRsBurg And tsArskoYe SeLO. HeRself anD parents lIveD In spLeNdOr outsiDe the town of F——, a StOne's throw
. 'Perhaps the storm cause d him to t urn b ack  or  h alt. '

' Perhaps he's s t uck, ' countered I.

'Perha ps we  c o uldu se  a sp lash of wi n e ,'Ne ka bov  s a id . 'Ibro ught atartlet Rk ats it eli.'

'I do n 't  drink,' I  sa id.

'What?'  Ne kabovsc ree c hed.'It 's away of life a mong youli t erati! ' 

'Hisf a th er w as a drunkard,' I l io s ovy explained. 

'And  I ' ll e njo y t aking your  m oneyw hen you ar e t oou neven to see, ' I said.
' Oh,  I und er sta n d,' Ne kabov  s a id.  'This is y ourstrategy,  hm? I f  so, Me d velov w ill le ave  de stit u te .. .or  m o red es tit u tethan heis .Provi dedh e a rriv es,  ofcours e...'

'He'sa w astr e l?'  Ilio sovyaske d,  rais ing an  eyeb ro w.

Nekabov exp lain ed: 'I ha veit  on  g ood a u thorit y M edv elov'sdebts e n com pa s s th e breadth of sever al d is tricts.Seedyg am bl i ng salon scal l hi s name,  whi c his why,despit e  h is  trucul en ce, Ikn ewhe' d com e  tome. Th e man ne eds a squeeze to kee p  the collecto r sa t  a r m'slen gth. Worse,  he' s  spe nt a si zab l e amo unt o fh is spouse's bequest an dshe... Lavin a Checknova.. .eh...if y o u believetheg os s ip, and I do,she's  powerless to stopthe d irge.'
'How disg r a ceful!'Ili oso vyexc l a im ed.

'Yes, it i s,'Ne kabov r esp onded w ith  anod . ' Th ere are w hispershe  o nl ymar riedh er for t he  do sh . R egard l ess, I van a nd L av in a  ex ist ina  w o r ld o fde nial ; t he y rac e to des tructio n as if r ewa r d aw ai ts  on the  other side.' 
'Goodness,  t hemorose c hatter!'  I jeered. 'Speculation is notpro of.'
'We ll, I'lltel l youwha t  I'veheardand l et  yo u prono u n ce  ju dg ment,' sai d Nek abov.  ' Lavi na Chec knova...'

# CHAPT E R 1 2d

### Nekab ov' s Na r r at ion 
. . .ha nd s ome a nd busty, be th e lone chi ld of  a success f ulst ructura l engin eer w h o helpe d constru ct the ra il  lin e con necting St . Peters burg andT sarsk o ye  Selo . H erself  a ndparen ts liv e d i n spl endorou tsidethe t ow n of F—— , a stone's throw
. 'Perhaps_the storm_caused him to turn_back or_halt.'

'Perhaps_he's stuck,'_countered_I.

'Perhaps we could_use a splash_of wine,' Nekabov said._'I brought a_tartlet_Rkatsiteli.'

'I don't drink,' I said.

'What?' Nekabov screeched. 'It's a way of life among you_literati!'

'His_father was_a_drunkard,'_Iliosovy explained.

'And I'll enjoy taking_your money when you are_too uneven_to see,' I said.

'Oh, I understand,' Nekabov said._'This_is your strategy,_hm? If so, Medvelov will leave destitute...or more destitute_than he is. Provided he arrives,_of course...'

'He's a_wastrel?'_Iliosovy_asked, raising an eyebrow.

Nekabov_explained: 'I have it on good_authority Medvelov's debts encompass the breadth_of several districts. Seedy gambling salons call_his name, which is why, despite_his truculence, I knew he'd_come to_me. The man needs a_squeeze to keep_the collectors_at arm's length._Worse, he's spent a sizable amount_of his spouse's_bequest and she...Lavina Checknova...eh...if you believe_the_gossip, and I_do,_she's_powerless to_stop the dirge.'

'How_disgraceful!'_Iliosovy exclaimed.

'Yes,_it_is,' Nekabov responded with a nod._'There_are whispers he only married her for_the dosh. Regardless, Ivan_and_Lavina exist in a_world of denial; they race_to destruction as if reward awaits_on the_other side.'

'Goodness,_the morose chatter!' I jeered. 'Speculation is not proof.'

'Well, I'll tell_you what I've heard and let_you pronounce judgment,' said_Nekabov. 'Lavina_Checknova...'

#_CHAPTER 12d

### Nekabov's_Narration

...handsome_and busty,_be the lone child of a successful_structural engineer_who helped construct the rail line_connecting St. Petersburg and_Tsarskoye_Selo. Herself and parents lived in_splendor outside the town of F——,_a stone's throw