General Prudoshkin walked slowly to the window, limping as he went. He slowly took out his pipe, and looked at it thoughtfully while Presetska, Annokovka and Yuri waited behind the couch, expectantly. At length, the General lighted his pipe and smoked deeply and exhaled, wrapping a wreath of blue haze around his head. Yuri coughed.
"Ah, I see you have caught cold so late in this autumn season, Yuri Panovich," said the General absently, puffing on his pipe. "Your unrequited love for Annokovka has brought you to this state, undoubtedly".
"Father!" blurted Yuri, his face glowing hot and red as Annokovka turned on her heels and fled the room in haste. "Why would you say such a thing in front of the princess!"
"Sometimes these things cannot be avoided," said the General. "When Michael Alexayvich proposed his hand to her earlier in the summer, clumsily, I might add, it was said she died a thousand deaths, so delicate a flower as that girl. Her mother was so mortified she jumped in the Volga and nearly drowned. Yes, it was the talk of the city."
Suddenly, the shriek of a woman pierced the drawing room door.
"Oh, I hope the princess did not run into the room where we keep Oleg the Unicycle-riding bear!" gasped Presetska, her face turing white as a sheet. Yuri steadied her while the General raised an eyebrow amidst the intesifying shrieking.
"Quite," said he.
--posted by Bryan