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'I would break every bone in that Viktor's body now,' pursued Fustov, clenching his teeth, 'if I didn't recognise that I'm in fault. I see now what the whole trick was contrived for, with Susanna's marriage they would lose the pension.... Wretches!'
I took his hand. 'Alexander,' I asked him, 'have you been to her?' 'No; I came straight to you on arriving. I'll go to-morrow... early to-morrow. Things can't be left so. On no account!' 'But you... love her, Alexander?' Fustov seemed offended. 'Of course I love her. I am very much attached to her.' 'She's a splendid, true-hearted girl!' I cried. Fustov stamped impatiently. 'Well, what notion have you got in y our head? I was prepared to marry her—she's been baptized—I'm ready to marry her even now, I'd been thinking of it, though she's o
