The prince took his note. Ferdishenko rose.
“ I came here to warn you,” he said. “In the first place, don’t lend me any money, for I shall certainly ask you to.”
“ Very well.”
“ Shall you pay here?”
“ Yes, I intend to.”
“ Oh! I don’t intend to. Thanks. I live here, next door to you; you noticed a room, did you? Don’t come to me very often; I shall see you here quite often enough. Have you seen the general?”
“ No.”
“ Nor heard him?”
“ No; of course not.”
“ Well, you’ll both hear and see him soon; he even tries to borrow money from me. Avis au lecteur. Good-bye; do you think a man can possibly live with a name like Ferdishenko?”
“ Why not?”
“ Good-bye.”
And so he departed. The prince found out afterwards that this gentleman made it his business to amaze p
