drinking iced water; and can you seriously assure me that such a life is worth too much to be risked for an instant’s pleasure – happiness I won’t even talk about.’

‘Oh, very well,’ remarked Lushin, ‘caprice and irresponsibility� . Those two words sum you up; your whole nature’s contained in those two words.’

Zina�da laughed nervously.

‘You’re late for the post, my dear doctor. You don’t keep a good look-out; you’re behind the times. Put on your spectacles. I’m in no capricious humour now. To make fools of you, to make a fool of myself � much fun there is in that! – and as for irresponsibility � M’sieu Voldemar,’ Zina�da added suddenly, stamping, ‘don’t