Annotations by Alexey Sklyarenko

In VN’s novel Priglashenie na kazn’ (“Invitation to a Beheading,” 1935) Marthe’s face appears as in a locket (medalyon) against the background of that black velvet which lines at night the underside of the eyelids:

Describing his meeting with Ada (now married to Andrey Vinelander) in Mont Roux, Van mentions Vere’s Ninon and Ada’s lenclose:

According to Ada, Demon Veen (in VN’s novel Ada, 1969, Van’s and Ada’s father) called Dorothy Vinelander (Ada’s sister-in-law) l'impayable ("priceless for impudence and absurdity") Dorothy:

In VN’s novel Priglashenie na kazn’ (“Invitation to a Beheading,” 1935) the jailer Rodion uses the phrase styd i sram (shame on you):

Часы пробили семь, и вскоре явился Родион с обедом.

- Он, наверное, еще не приехал? - спросил Цинциннат.

Родион было ушел, но на пороге обернулся:

In VN’s novel Priglashenie na kazn’ (“Invitation to a Beheading,” 1935) Cincinnatus lives in the world of souls transparent to one other:

In VN’s novel Priglashenie na kazn’ (“Invitation to a Beheading,” 1935) Cecilia C. (Cincinnatus's very young mother) brings her son konfetki (candies):

- Вот - я вам принесла (вытянула, вытягивая и подкладку, фунтик из кармана пальто). Вот. Конфеток. Сосите на здоровьице.

According to Van Veen (the narrator and main character in VN’s novel Ada, 1969), the false mustache makes him look like Pierre Legrand, his fencing master:

Before the family dinner in “Ardis the Second” Marina (in VN’s novel Ada, 1969, Van’s, Ada’s and Lucette’s mother) tells Demon (Van’s and Ada’s father) pozhalsta bez glupostey (“please, no silly things”):

In VN’s novel Priglashenie na kazn’ (“Invitation to a Beheading,” 1935) lepet Marfin’ki (Marthe’s lisping prattle) and lepet (the prattle) of Cecilia C. (Cincinnatus’s mother) is mentioned:

The poet in VN’s novel Pale Fire (1962), John Shade likes his name:

After line 274 there is a false start in the draft: