ce fellow, but a little too simple," said Adelaida, as the
prince left the room.

"He is, indeed," said Alexandra; "almost laughably so at times."

Neither one nor the other seemed to give expression to her full
thoughts.

"He got out of it very neatly about our faces, though," said Aglaya. "He
flattered us all round, even mamma."

"Nonsense" cried the latter. "He did not flatter me. It was I who found
his appreciation flattering. I think you are a great deal more foolish
than he is. He is simple, of course, but also very knowing. Just like
myself."

"How stupid of me to speak of the portrait," thought the prince as
he entered the study, with a feeling of guilt at his heart, "and yet,
perhaps I was right after all." He had an idea, unformed as yet, but a
strange idea.

Gavrila Ardalionovitch was still sitting in the study, buried in a
mass of papers. He looked as though he did not take his salary from the
public company, whose servant he was, for a sinecure.

He grew very wroth and confused when the prince asked for the portrait,
and explained how it came about that he had spoken of it.

"Oh, curse it all," he said; "what on earth must you go blabbing for?
You know nothing about the thing, and yet--idiot!" he added, muttering
the last word to himself in irrepressible rage.

"I am very sorry; I was not thinking at the time. I merely said that
Aglaya was almost as beautiful as Nastasia Philipovna."

Gania asked for further details; and the prince once more repeated the
conversation. Gania looked at him with ironical contempt the while.

"Nastasia Philipovna," he began, and there paused; he was clearly much
agitated and annoyed. The prince reminded him of the portrait.

"Listen, prince," said Gania, as though an idea had just struck him, "I
wish to ask you a great favour, and yet I really don't know--"

He paused again, he was trying to make up his mind to something, and
was turning the matter over. The prince waited quietly. Once more Gania
fixed him with intent and questioning eyes.

"Prince," he began again, "they are rather angry with me, in there,
owing to a circumstance which I need not explain, so that I do not care
to go in at present without an invitation. I particularly wish to speak
to Aglaya, but I have written a few words in case I shall not have the
chance of seeing her" (here the prince observed a small note in his
hand), "and I do not know how to get my communication to her. Don't you
think