“ I should refuse to say a word if I were ordered to tell a story like that!” observed Aglaya.
“ Why? what’s there strange about it? He has a tongue. Why shouldn’t he tell us something? I want to judge whether he is a good story-teller; anything you like, prince—how you liked Switzerland, what was your first impression, anything. You’ll see, he’ll begin directly and tell us all about it beautifully.”
“ The impression was forcible—” the prince began.
“ There, you see, girls,” said the impatient lady, “he has begun, you see.”
“ Well, then, let him talk, mamma,” said Alexandra. “This prince is a great humbug and by no means an i***t,” she whispered to Aglaya.
“ Oh, I saw that at once,” replied the latter. “I don’t think it at all nice of him to play a part. Wha
