the great mass of impecunious people of
"family," found that this eccentric son of Prince Michael failed to
appreciate the charms of a single member of the opera ballet (now
indulging in the delights of their summer vacation, and expending part
of their savings of fifteen rubles a week upon champagne suppers or
coaching-parties to the various fashionable suburbs), they left him
disgustedly to his own devices: which consisted in pouring over the
orchestro-harmonical works of Monsieur Berlioz; and evolving strange
progressions upon his new Erard.

Meantime, behold Prince Michael, alone in his sanctum, diligently
studying the hieroglyphics on his map--of which the last corner, under
the heading of "Alexander II.," was gradually filling--and otherwise
working most zealously towards a new end. Nor was zeal unnecessary; for
it took him four months to make a certain lofty nobleman see the
unavoidable consequences of the translation and publication of a certain
portion of that map. It was October before a peremptory telegram brought
Ivan, with all his paraphernalia (consisting principally of much-worn
musical scores and a considerable pile of crude manuscript-music), back
to Konnaia Square. That night the young man slept once more in his boy's
room in the west wing; and nine o'clock next morning found him, for the
first time in his life, in his father's innermost cabinet, facing the
powerful form and the difficult eyes of Prince Michael.

The interview was a long one, but contained little repetition, and made
good use of every minute of its three hours. Ivan's whole problematical
future was laid before him, clearly and in detail, as it had been
constructed, during years of consideration, in his father's brain. It
was the one plan of Michael Gregoriev's life which was destined to prove
an absolute waste of energy. Still, there were to be two years of it
literally fulfilled, wherefore we touch upon its preliminaries.
Moreover, as Prince Michael spoke plainly, so we; though Ivan expended
little amazement on the revelation, and appreciated remarkably little of
the powerful influence that had been already brought to bear on his
unimportant behalf. Michael himself was keenly aware that, even in the
face of his map, he dared attempt nothing more till he had accumulated
at least another twenty-four months of--um--ah--inner official history.
But, for the present, he was satisfied with his accomplishment. Ivan, as
graduate of one of the