r insinuations as to rivalry are rather cynical, Hippolyte. I'm
sorry to say I have no right to answer you! As for Gania, I put it to
you, CAN any man have a happy mind after passing through what he has had
to suffer? I think that is the best way to look at it. He will
change yet, he has lots of time before him, and life is rich;
besides--besides..." the prince hesitated. "As to being undermined, I
don't know what in the world you are driving at, Hippolyte. I think we
had better drop the subject!"

"Very well, we'll drop it for a while. You can't look at anything but
in your exalted, generous way. You must put out your finger and touch a
thing before you'll believe it, eh? Ha! ha! ha! I suppose you despise me
dreadfully, prince, eh? What do you think?"

"Why? Because you have suffered more than we have?"

"No; because I am unworthy of my sufferings, if you like!"

"Whoever CAN suffer is worthy to suffer, I should think. Aglaya Ivanovna
wished to see you, after she had read your confession, but--"

"She postponed the pleasure--I see--I quite understand!" said Hippolyte,
hurriedly, as though he wished to banish the subject. "I hear--they
tell me--that you read her all that nonsense aloud? Stupid @ bosh it
was--written in delirium. And I can't understand how anyone can be so
I won't say CRUEL, because the word would be humiliating to myself, but
we'll say childishly vain and revengeful, as to REPROACH me with this
confession, and use it as a weapon against me. Don't be afraid, I'm not
referring to yourself."

"Oh, but I'm sorry you repudiate the confession, Hippolyte--it is
sincere; and, do you know, even the absurd parts of it--and these are
many" (here Hippolyte frowned savagely) "are, as it were, redeemed by
suffering--for it must have cost you something to admit what you there
say--great torture, perhaps, for all I know. Your motive must have
been a very noble one all through. Whatever may have appeared to the
contrary, I give you my word, I see this more plainly every day. I do
not judge you; I merely say this to have it off my mind, and I am only
sorry that I did not say it all THEN--"

Hippolyte flushed hotly. He had thought at first that the prince
was "humbugging" him; but on looking at his face he saw that he was
absolutely serious, and had no thought of any deception. Hippolyte
beamed with gratification.

"And yet I must die," he said, and almost added: "a man like me @

"And imagine how that Gania ann