Insufferably insolent and challenging was the effect in Alexey Alexandrovitch's eyes of the black lace about the head, admirably touched in by the painter, the black hair and handsome white hand with one finger lifted, covered with rings.

After looking at the portrait for a minute, Alexey Alexandrovitch shuddered so that his lips quivered and he uttered the sound "brrr," and turned away.

He made haste to sit down in his easy chair and opened the book.

He tried to read, but he could not revive the very vivid interest he had felt before in Egyptian hieroglyphics.