at his
betraying no surprise.

"You knew it? Come, that's news! But no--perhaps better not tell me. And
were you a witness of the meeting?"

"If you were there yourself you must have known that I was NOT there!"

"Oh! but you may have been sitting behind the bushes somewhere. However,
I am very glad, on your account, of course. I was beginning to be afraid
that Mr. Gania--might have the preference!"

"May I ask you, Hippolyte, not to talk of this subject? And not to use
such expressions?"

"Especially as you know all, eh?"

"You are wrong. I know scarcely anything, and Aglaya Ivanovna is aware
that I know nothing. I knew nothing whatever about this meeting. You say
there was a meeting. Very well; let's leave it so--"

"Why, what do you mean? You said you knew, and now suddenly you know
nothing! You say 'very well; let's leave it so.' But I say, don't be
so confiding, especially as you know nothing. You are confiding simply
BECAUSE you know nothing. But do you know what these good people have
in their minds' eye--Gania and his sister? Perhaps you are suspicious?
Well, well, I'll drop the subject!" he added, hastily, observing the
prince's impatient gesture. "But I've come to you on my own business;
I wish to make you a clear explanation. What a nuisance it is that one
cannot die without explanations! I have made such a quantity of them
already. Do you wish to hear what I have to say?"

"Speak away, I am listening."

"Very well, but I'll change my mind, and begin about Gania. Just fancy
to begin with, if you can, that I, too, was given an appointment at
the green bench today! However, I won't deceive you; I asked for the
appointment. I said I had a secret to disclose. I don't know whether I
came there too early, I think I must have; but scarcely had I sat down
beside Aglaya Ivanovna than I saw Gavrila Ardalionovitch and his sister
Varia coming along, arm in arm, just as though they were enjoying a
morning walk together. Both of them seemed very much astonished, not
to say disturbed, at seeing me; they evidently had not expected
the pleasure. Aglaya Ivanovna blushed up, and was actually a little
confused. I don't know whether it was merely because I was there, or
whether Gania's beauty was too much for her! But anyway, she turned
crimson, and then finished up the business in a very funny manner.
She jumped up from her seat, bowed back to Gania, smiled to Varia, and
suddenly observed: 'I only came here to express