Allow me to warn you," interposed General Ivolgin, "that he is the
greatest charlatan on earth." He had taken the chair next to the girl,
and was impatient to begin talking. "No doubt there are pleasures and
amusements peculiar to the country," he continued, "and to listen to a
pretended student holding forth on the book of the Revelations may be
as good as any other. It may even be original. But... you seem to
be looking at me with some surprise--may I introduce myself--General
Ivolgin--I carried you in my arms as a baby--"

"Delighted, I'm sure," said Aglaya; "I am acquainted with Varvara
Ardalionovna and Nina Alexandrovna." She was trying hard to restrain
herself from laughing.

Mrs. Epanchin flushed up; some accumulation of spleen in her suddenly
needed an outlet. She could not bear this General Ivolgin whom she had
once known, long ago--in society.

"You are deviating from the truth, sir, as usual!" she remarked, boiling
over with indignation; "you never carried her in your life!"

"You have forgotten, mother," said Aglaya, suddenly. "He really did
carry me about,--in Tver, you know. I was six years old, I remember.
He made me a bow and arrow, and I shot a pigeon. Don't you remember
shooting a pigeon, you and I, one day?"

"Yes, and he made me a cardboard helmet, and a little wooden sword--I
remember!" said Adelaida.

"Yes, I remember too!" said Alexandra. "You quarrelled about the wounded
pigeon, and Adelaida was put in the corner, and stood there with her
helmet and sword and all."

The poor general had merely made the remark about having carried Aglaya
in his arms because he always did so begin a conversation with young
people. But it happened that this time he had really hit upon the truth,
though he had himself entirely forgotten the fact. But when Adelaida and
Aglaya recalled the episode of the pigeon, his mind became filled
with memories, and it is impossible to describe how this poor old man,
usually half drunk, was moved by the recollection.

"I remember--I remember it all!" he cried. "I was captain then. You were
such a lovely little thing--Nina Alexandrovna!--Gania, listen! I was
received then by General Epanchin."

"Yes, and look what you have come to now!" interrupted Mrs. Epanchin.
"However, I see you have not quite drunk your better feelings away. But
you've broken your wife's heart, sir--and instead of looking after
your children, you have spent your time in public-houses and debtors'
pri