u pay your hotel bill?" I cried in consternation. "And
what shall you do afterwards?"

He looked at me vaguely, but it was clear that he had not
understood--perhaps had not even heard--my questions. Then I tried to
get him to speak of Polina and the children, but he only returned brief
answers of "Yes, yes," and again started to maunder about the Prince,
and the likelihood of the latter marrying Mlle. Blanche. "What on earth
am I to do?" he concluded. "What on earth am I to do? Is this not
ingratitude? Is it not sheer ingratitude?" And he burst into tears.

Nothing could be done with such a man. Yet to leave him alone was
dangerous, for something might happen to him. I withdrew from his rooms
for a little while, but warned the nursemaid to keep an eye upon him,
as well as exchanged a word with the corridor lacquey (a very talkative
fellow), who likewise promised to remain on the look-out.

Hardly had I left the General, when Potapitch approached me with a
summons from the Grandmother. It was now eight o'clock, and she had
returned from the Casino after finally losing all that she possessed. I
found her sitting in her chair--much distressed and evidently fatigued.
Presently Martha brought her up a cup of tea and forced her to drink
it; yet, even then I could detect in the old lady's tone and manner a
great change.

"Good evening, Alexis Ivanovitch," she said slowly, with her head
drooping. "Pardon me for disturbing you again. Yes, you must pardon an
old, old woman like myself, for I have left behind me all that I
possess--nearly a hundred thousand roubles! You did quite right in
declining to come with me this evening. Now I am without money--without
a single groat. But I must not delay a moment; I must leave by the 9:30
train. I have sent for that English friend of yours, and am going to
beg of him three thousand francs for a week. Please try and persuade
him to think nothing of it, nor yet to refuse me, for I am still a rich
woman who possesses three villages and a couple of mansions. Yes, the
money shall be found, for I have not yet squandered EVERYTHING. I tell
you this in order that he may have no doubts about--Ah, but here he is!
Clearly he is a good fellow."

True enough, Astley had come hot-foot on receiving the Grandmother's
appeal. Scarcely stopping even to reflect, and with scarcely a word, he
counted out the three thousand francs under a note of hand which she
duly signed. Then, his business done, he bowe