"Mariana Vikentievna," he began, "is still full of the ideals . .
. the romanticism of youth . . . which . . . in time--"

"Heaven, I was unjust to myself," Valentina Mihailovna
interrupted him; "I am also interested in these questions. I am
not quite an old lady yet."

"Of course. So am I in a way," Kollomietzev put in hastily. "Only
I would forbid such things being talked about!"

"Forbid them being talked about?" Mariana asked in astonishment.

"Yes! I would say to the public, 'Interest yourselves in these
things as much as you like, but talk about them... shhh...'" He layed
his finger on his lips.

"I would, at any rate, forbid speaking through the press under
any conditions!"

Valentina Mihailovna laughed.

"What? Would you have a commission appointed by the ministers for
settling these questions?

"Why not? Don't you think we could do it better than these
ignorant, hungry loafers who know nothing and imagine themselves
to be men of genius? We could appoint Boris Andraevitch as
president."