“ There, you see! Even your own son supports my statement that there never was such a person as Captain Eropegoff!” that the old fellow muttered confusedly:
“ Kapiton Eropegoff—not Captain Eropegoff!—Kapiton—major retired—Eropegoff—Kapiton.”
“ Kapiton didn’t exist either!” persisted Gania, maliciously.
“ What? Didn’t exist?” cried the poor general, and a deep blush suffused his face.
“ That’ll do, Gania!” cried Varia and Ptitsin.
“ Shut up, Gania!” said Colia.
But this intercession seemed to rekindle the general.
“ What did you mean, sir, that he didn’t exist? Explain yourself,” he repeated, angrily.
“ Because he didn’t exist—never could and never did—there! You’d better drop the subject, I warn you!”
“ And this is my son—my own son—whom I—oh, gracious Heaven! Erop
