th Alexandra Michailovna."

"Alexandra Michailovna out, too! How disappointing! Would you believe
it, I am always so unfortunate! May I most respectfully ask you to
present my compliments to Alexandra Michailovna, and remind her... tell
her, that with my whole heart I wish for her what she wished for herself
on Thursday evening, while she was listening to Chopin's Ballade. She
will remember. I wish it with all sincerity. General Ivolgin and Prince
Muishkin!"

The woman's face changed; she lost her suspicious expression.

"I will not fail to deliver your message," she replied, and bowed them
out.

As they went downstairs the general regretted repeatedly that he had
failed to introduce the prince to his friends.

"You know I am a bit of a poet," said he. "Have you noticed it? The
poetic soul, you know." Then he added suddenly--"But after all...
after all I believe we made a mistake this time! I remember that the
Sokolovitch's live in another house, and what is more, they are just
now in Moscow. Yes, I certainly was at fault. However, it is of no
consequence."

"Just tell me," said the prince in reply, "may I count still on your
assistance? Or shall I go on alone to see Nastasia Philipovna?"

"Count on my assistance? Go alone? How can you ask me that question,
when it is a matter on which the fate of my family so largely depends?
You don't know Ivolgin, my friend. To trust Ivolgin is to trust a rock;
that's how the first squadron I commanded spoke of me. 'Depend upon
Ivolgin,' said they all, 'he is as steady as a rock.' But, excuse me,
I must just call at a house on our way, a house where I have found
consolation and help in all my trials for years."

"You are going home?"

"No... I wish... to visit Madame Terentieff, the widow of Captain
Terentieff, my old subordinate and friend. She helps me to keep up my
courage, and to bear the trials of my domestic life, and as I have an
extra burden on my mind today..."

"It seems to me," interrupted the prince, "that I was foolish to trouble
you just now. However, at present you... Good-bye!"

"Indeed, you must not go away like that, young man, you must not!" cried
the general. "My friend here is a widow, the mother of a family; her
words come straight from her heart, and find an echo in mine. A visit
to her is merely an affair of a few minutes; I am quite at home in her
house. I will have a wash, and dress, and then we can drive to the Grand
Theatre. Make up your mind