the little finger held apart from the rest. He pressed his lips to it,
and she drew her chair nearer to him, and bending a little towards him,
asked in an undertone--

"So you saw him? Was he really--all right--quite well and cheerful?"

"Yes, he was well and cheerful," replied Gedeonovsky in a whisper.

"You haven't heard where his wife is now?"

"She was lately in Paris; now, they say, she has gone away to Italy."

"It is terrible, indeed--Fedya's position; I wonder how he can bear it.
Every one, of course, has trouble; but he, one may say, has been made
the talk of all Europe."

Gedeonovsky sighed.

"Yes, indeed, yes, indeed. They do say, you know that she associates
with artists and musicians, and as the saying is, with strange creatures
of all kinds. She has lost all sense of shame completely."

"I am deeply, deeply grieved." said Marya Dmitrievna. "On account of
our relationship. You know, Sergei Petrovitch, he's my cousin many times
removed."

"Of course, of course. Don't I know everything that concerns your
family? I should hope so, indeed."

"Will he come to see us--what do you think?"