“ Yes, I see and understand.”
Mrs. Epanchin gazed keenly into the prince’s eyes. She was anxious to see what impression the news as to Evgenie Pavlovitch had made upon him.
“ Do you know anything about Gavrila Ardalionovitch?” she asked at last.
“ Oh yes, I know a good deal.”
“ Did you know he had communications with Aglaya?”
“ No, I didn’t,” said the prince, trembling a little, and in great agitation. “You say Gavrila Ardalionovitch has private communications with Aglaya?—Impossible!”
“ Only quite lately. His sister has been working like a rat to clear the way for him all the winter.”
“ I don’t believe it!” said the prince abruptly, after a short pause. “Had it been so I should have known long ago.”
“ Oh, of course, yes; he would have come and wept out his secret on your b
