“ I have not got a ten-rouble note,” said the prince; “but here is a twenty-five. Change it and give me back the fifteen, or I shall be left without a farthing myself.”
“ Oh, of course, of course; and you quite understand that I—”
“ Yes; and I have another request to make, general. Have you ever been at Nastasia Philipovna’s?”
“ I? I? Do you mean me? Often, my friend, often! I only pretended I had not in order to avoid a painful subject. You saw today, you were a witness, that I did all that a kind, an indulgent father could do. Now a father of altogether another type shall step into the scene. You shall see; the old soldier shall lay bare this intrigue, or a shameless woman will force her way into a respectable and noble family.”
“ Yes, quite so. I wished to ask you whether you c
