ing. He finished at last, and brought the result of his
labour to the general's desk.

"So this is Nastasia Philipovna," he said, looking attentively and
curiously at the portrait. "How wonderfully beautiful!" he immediately
added, with warmth. The picture was certainly that of an unusually
lovely woman. She was photographed in a black silk dress of simple
design, her hair was evidently dark and plainly arranged, her eyes were
deep and thoughtful, the expression of her face passionate, but proud.
She was rather thin, perhaps, and a little pale. Both Gania and the
general gazed at the prince in amazement.

"How do you know it's Nastasia Philipovna?" asked the general; "you
surely don't know her already, do you?"

"Yes, I do! I have only been one day in Russia, but I have heard of
the great beauty!" And the prince proceeded to narrate his meeting with
Rogojin in the train and the whole of the latter's story.

"There's news!" said the general in some excitement, after listening to
the story with engrossed attention.

"Oh, of course it's nothing but humbug!" cried Gania, a little
disturbed, however. "It's all humbug; the young merchant was pleased
to indulge in a little innocent recreation! I have heard something of
Rogojin!"

"Yes, so have I!" replied the general. "Nastasia Philipovna told us
all about the earrings that very day. But now it is quite a different
matter. You see the fellow really has a million of roubles, and he is
passionately in love. The whole story smells of passion, and we all
know what this class of gentry is capable of when infatuated. I am much
afraid of some disagreeable scandal, I am indeed!"

"You are afraid of the million, I suppose," said Gania, grinning and
showing his teeth.

"And you are NOT, I presume, eh?"

"How did he strike you, prince?" asked Gania, suddenly. "Did he seem to
be a serious sort of a man, or just a common rowdy fellow? What was your
own opinion about the matter?"

While Gania put this question, a new idea suddenly flashed into his
brain, and blazed out, impatiently, in his eyes. The general, who was
really agitated and disturbed, looked at the prince too, but did not
seem to expect much from his reply.

"I really don't quite know how to tell you," replied the prince, "but
it certainly did seem to me that the man was full of passion, and not,
perhaps, quite healthy passion. He seemed to be still far from well.
Very likely he will be in bed again in a day or two