Vladimir Nabokov. Labios contra labios
Vladimir Nabokov. LIPS TO LIPS
"How the deuce didn't I guess immediately!" ejaculated Ilya Borisovich.
It was entitled "Prologue to a novel." It was signed "A. Ilyin," with, in parentheses, "To be continued." A small bit, three pages and a half, but what a nice bit! Overture. Elegant. "Ilyin" is better than "Annenski." Might have been a mix-up even if they had put "Ilya Annenski." But why "Prologue" and not simply: Lips to Lips, Chapter One? Oh, that's quite unimportant.
He reread the piece thrice. Then he laid the magazine aside, paced his study, whistling