"Who craves your friendship and indulgence," added Riasantzeff, joking
in his turn.

With a sincere wish to become friends, the two shook hands. For a
moment it seemed as if they would embrace, but they refrained, merely
exchanging frank, amicable glances.

"So this is her brother, is it?" thought Riasantzeff, in surprise, for
he had imagined that a brother of Lialia, short, fair, and merry, would
be short, fair and merry too. Yourii, on the contrary was tall, thin
and dark, though as good-looking as Lialia, and with the same regular
features.

And, as Yourii looked at Riasantzeff, he thought to himself: "So this
is the man who in my little sister Lialia, as fresh and fair as a
spring morning, loves the woman; loves her just as I myself have loved
women." Somehow, it hurt him to look at Lialia and Riasantzeff, as if
he feared that they would read his thoughts.

The two men felt that they had much that was important to say to each
other. Yourii would have liked to ask:

"Do you love Lialia? Really and truly? It would be sad, and indeed
shameful, if you were to betray her; she's so pure, so innocent!"

And Riasantzeff would have liked to answer:

"Yes, I love your sister deeply; who could do anything else but love
her? Look how pure and sweet, and charming she is; how fond she is of