"

"Oh! it's not a great matter to guess who told her. A thief! A thief in
our family, and the head of the family, too!"

"Oh! nonsense!" cried Varia, angrily. "That was nothing but a drunkard's
tale. Nonsense! Why, who invented the whole thing--Lebedeff and the
prince--a pretty pair! Both were probably drunk."

"Father is a drunkard and a thief; I am a beggar, and the husband of my
sister is a usurer," continued Gania, bitterly. "There was a pretty list
of advantages with which to enchant the heart of Aglaya."

"That same husband of your sister, the usurer--"

"Feeds me? Go on. Don't stand on ceremony, pray."

"Don't lose your temper. You are just like a schoolboy. You think that
all this sort of thing would harm you in Aglaya's eyes, do you? You
little know her character. She is capable of refusing the most brilliant
party, and running away and starving in a garret with some wretched
student; that's the sort of girl she is. You never could or did
understand how interesting you would have seen in her eyes if you had
come firmly and proudly through our misfortunes. The prince has simply
caught her with hook and line; firstly, because he never thought of
fishing for her, and secondly, because he is an idiot in the eyes of
most people. It's quite enough for her that by accepting him she puts
her family out and annoys them all round--that's what she likes. You
don't understand these things."

"We shall see whether I understand or no!" said Gania, enigmatically.
"But I shouldn't like her to know all about father, all the same. I
thought the prince would manage to hold his tongue about this, at least.
He prevented Lebedeff spreading the news--he wouldn't even tell me all
when I asked him--"

"Then you must see that he is not responsible. What does it matter to
you now, in any case? What are you hoping for still? If you HAVE a hope
left, it is that your suffering air may soften her heart towards you."

"Oh, she would funk a scandal like anyone else. You are all tarred with
one brush!"

"What! AGLAYA would have funked? You are a chicken-hearted fellow,
Gania!" said Varia, looking at her brother with contempt. "Not one of
us is worth much. Aglaya may be a wild sort of a girl, but she is far
nobler than any of us, a thousand times nobler!"

"Well--come! there's nothing to get cross about," said Gania.

"All I'm afraid of is--mother. I'm afraid this scandal about father may
come to her ears; perhaps it has already.