now and then; you shall be comfortable enough with
us. They are sure to make you one of the family. I think you and I
will either be great friends or enemies. Look here now, supposing I had
kissed your hand just now, as I offered to do in all sincerity, should I
have hated you for it afterwards?"

"Certainly, but not always. You would not have been able to keep it up,
and would have ended by forgiving me," said the prince, after a pause
for reflection, and with a pleasant smile.

"Oho, how careful one has to be with you, prince! Haven't you put a drop
of poison in that remark now, eh? By the way--ha, ha, ha!--I forgot to
ask, was I right in believing that you were a good deal struck yourself
with Nastasia Philipovna."

"Ye-yes."

"Are you in love with her?"

"N-no."

"And yet you flush up as red as a rosebud! Come--it's all right. I'm not
going to laugh at you. Do you know she is a very virtuous woman? Believe
it or not, as you like. You think she and Totski--not a bit of it, not a
bit of it! Not for ever so long! Au revoir!"

Gania left the room in great good humour. The prince stayed behind, and
meditated alone for a few minutes. At length, Colia popped his head in
once more.

"I don't want any dinner, thanks, Colia. I had too good a lunch at
General Epanchin's."

Colia came into the room and gave the prince a note; it was from the
general and was carefully sealed up. It was clear from Colia's face how
painful it was to him to deliver the missive. The prince read it, rose,
and took his hat.

"It's only a couple of yards," said Colia, blushing.

"He's sitting there over his bottle--and how they can give him credit,
I cannot understand. Don't tell mother I brought you the note, prince;
I have sworn not to do it a thousand times, but I'm always so sorry for
him. Don't stand on ceremony, give him some trifle, and let that end
it."

"Come along, Colia, I want to see your father. I have an idea," said the
prince.

XII.

Colia took the prince to a public-house in the Litaynaya, not far off.
In one of the side rooms there sat at a table--looking like one of the
regular guests of the establishment--Ardalion Alexandrovitch, with a
bottle before him, and a newspaper on his knee. He was waiting for
the prince, and no sooner did the latter appear than he began a long
harangue about something or other; but so far gone was he that the
prince could hardly understand a word.

"I have not got a ten-rouble note,"