He left the room quickly, covering his face with his hands.
| “Of course I wrote an apology, and called, but they would not receive either me or my apology, and the Epanchins cut me, too!” |
| “But, you wretched man, at least she must have said something? There must be _some_ answer from her!” |
At last he was wide awake.
But it was a hysterical laugh; he was feeling terribly oppressed. He remembered clearly that just here, standing before this window, he had suddenly turned round, just as earlier in the day he had turned and found the dreadful eyes of Rogojin fixed upon him. Convinced, therefore, that in this respect at all events he had been under no delusion, he left the shop and went on.
Her serious air, however, during this conversation had surprised him considerably. He had a feeling that he ought to be asking her something, that there was something he wanted to find out far more important than how to load a pistol; but his thoughts had all scattered, and he was only aware that she was sitting by him, and talking to him, and that he was looking at her; as to what she happened to be saying to him, that did not matter in the least. “And she gave it you to read herself--_herself?_” “I will think about it,” said the prince dreamily, and went off. “It’s impossible, she cannot have given it to you to read! You are lying. You read it yourself!”| “You will only excite him more,” he said. “He has nowhere else to go to--he’ll be back here in half an hour. I’ve talked it all over with Colia; let him play the fool a bit, it will do him good.” |
| “Is it a note?” |
He pulled the note out and kissed it; then paused and reflected. “How strange it all is! how strange!” he muttered, melancholy enough now. In moments of great joy, he invariably felt a sensation of melancholy come over him--he could not tell why.
| “He is a lodger of ours,” explained the latter. |
| “Oh, but think how delightful to hear how one’s friends lie! Besides you needn’t be afraid, Gania; everybody knows what your worst action is without the need of any lying on your part. Only think, gentlemen,”--and Ferdishenko here grew quite enthusiastic, “only think with what eyes we shall observe one another tomorrow, after our tales have been told!” |
“Indeed? She looks very sweet. I should like to make her acquaintance.”
“It’s all a joke, mamma; it’s just a joke like the ‘poor knight’--nothing more whatever, I assure you!” Alexandra whispered in her ear. “She is chaffing him--making a fool of him, after her own private fashion, that’s all! But she carries it just a little too far--she is a regular little actress. How she frightened us just now--didn’t she?--and all for a lark!”
| “She ought to be whipped--that’s the only way to deal with creatures like that--she ought to be whipped!” |
| “I really think I must have seen him somewhere!” she murmured seriously enough. |
It appeared that it was indeed as they had surmised. The young fellow hastened to admit the fact with wonderful readiness.
“Oh yes, and in three days you’ll come and invite me yourself. Aren’t you ashamed now? These are your best feelings; you are only tormenting yourself.”
“No one ever thought of such a thing! There has never been a word said about it!” cried Alexandra.
VIII.
| She solemnly announced that she had heard from old Princess Bielokonski, who had given her most comforting news about “that queer young prince.” Her friend had hunted him up, and found that all was going well with him. He had since called in person upon her, making an extremely favourable impression, for the princess had received him each day since, and had introduced him into several good houses. |
“I recognize no jurisdiction over myself, and I know that I am now beyond the power of laws and judges.
The prince muttered that the spot was a lovely one.| This was the note: |
He paused, breathless.
There was silence for a moment. Then Ptitsin spoke.
| “Dear me, what a philosopher you are!” laughed the prince. |