" I do not know. Somehow your gaze seems

to draw from me everything that I would rather people did not learn you least of all."

Why so ? You are a friend of Schtoltz's, and he is a friend of mine, and there- fore "

" And therefore there is no reason why you should know as much about me as he does," concluded Oblomov.

"No, there Is no reason. But at least there is a possibility that I may do so."

"Yes thanks to his talkativeness! Indeed a poor service ! "

" Have you, then, any secrets to conceal or even crimes?" With a little laugh she edged away from him.

" Perhaps," he said with a sigh.

" Yes, to put on odd socks is a grave crime," she remarked with demure timidity. Oblomov seized his hat.

" I will not stand this ! " he cried. " Yet you want me to feel at home here ! As for Schtoltz, I detest him ! He told you about the socks, I suppose?"

" Nay, nay," she said. " Pardon me this once, and I will try to look at you in quite a different way. As a matter of fact, 'tis you who are looking at me in rather an odd fashion."