name on it. And the nice little note still exists in that guise, only one doesn’t do such things! It’s criminal. Eight thousand.”
“And surely it’s you who have this note?” I glanced at him ferociously.
“I have a bank, sir, I have a
The prince stopped him rudely and spitefully:
“What are you doing here? Why did you stay?”
“Ah!” Stebelkov quickly began nodding with his eyes. “And that? What about that?”
“No, no, no, not that,” the prince shouted and stamped his foot, “I told you!”
“Ah, well, if so . . . then so . . . Only it’s not so . . .”
He turned sharply and, inclining his head and rounding his back, suddenly left. The prince called after him when he was already in the doorway:
“Be it known to you, sir, that I am not afraid of you in the least!”
He was highly vexed, made as if to sit down, but, having glanced at me, did not. It was as if his glance was also saying to me, “Why are you also sticking around?”
“Prince,” I tried to begin . . .
“I really have no time, Arkady Makarovich, I’m about to leave.”
“One moment, Prince, it’s very important to me; and, first of all, take back your three hundred.”
“What’s this now?”
He was pacing, but he paused.
“It’s this, that after all that’s happened . . . and what you said about Versilov, that he’s dishonorable, and, finally, your tone all the rest of the time . . . In short, I simply can’t accept.”
“You’ve been
He suddenly sat down on a chair. I stood by the table, flipping through Belinsky’s book with one hand and holding my hat with the other.
“The feelings were different, Prince . . . And, finally, I’d never have brought it as far as a certain figure . . . This gambling . . . In short, I can’t!”
“You simply haven’t distinguished yourself in anything, and so you’re frantic. I beg you to leave that book alone.”
“What does ‘haven’t distinguished yourself ’ mean? And, finally, you almost put me on a par with Stebelkov in front of your guests.”
“Ah, there’s the answer!” he grinned caustically. “Besides, you were embarrassed that Darzan called you ‘prince.’”
He laughed maliciously. I flared up:
“I don’t even understand . . . I wouldn’t take your princehood gratis . . .”
“I know your character. It was ridiculous the way you cried out in defense of Mme. Akhmakov . . . Leave the book alone!”
“What does that mean?” I also shouted.
“Le-e-eave the book alo-o-one!” he suddenly yelled, sitting up fiercely in his armchair, as if ready to charge.
“This goes beyond all limits,” I said and quickly left the room. But before I reached the end of the hall, he called out to me from the door of the study:
“Come back, Arkady Makarovich! Come ba-a-ack! Come ba-a-ack right now!”
I paid no attention and walked on. He quickly overtook me, seized my arm, and dragged me back to the study. I didn’t resist!
“Take it!” he said, pale with agitation, handing me the three hundred roubles I had left there. “You absolutely must take it . . . otherwise we . . . you absolutely must!”
“How can I take it, Prince?”
“Well, I’ll ask your forgiveness, shall I? Well, forgive me! . . .”
“Prince, I always loved you, and if you also . . .”
“I also; take it . . .”
I took it. His lips were trembling.
“I understand, Prince, that you were infuriated by this scoundrel . . . but I won’t take it, Prince, unless we kiss each other, as with previous quarrels . . .”
I was also trembling as I said it.
“Well, what softheartedness,” the prince murmured with an embarrassed smile, but he leaned over and kissed me. I shuddered: in his face, at the moment of the kiss, I could decidedly read disgust.
“Did he at least bring you the money? . . .”
