Chapter 3

           “PyotrPetrovitch,”shecried,“protectme...youatleast!Makethisfoolishwomanunderstandthatshecan’tbehavelikethistoaladyinmisfortune...thatthereisalawforsuchthings....I’llgotothegovernor-generalhimself....Sheshallanswerforit....Rememberingmyfather’shospitalityprotecttheseorphans.”

           “Allowme,madam....Allowme.”PyotrPetrovitchwavedheroff.“YourpapaasyouarewellawareIhadnotthehonourofknowing”(someonelaughedaloud)“andIdonotintendtotakepartinyoureverlastingsquabbleswithAmaliaIvanovna....Ihavecomeheretospeakofmyownaffairs...andIwanttohaveawordwithyourstepdaughter,Sofya...Ivanovna,Ithinkitis?Allowmetopass.”

           PyotrPetrovitch,edgingbyher,wenttotheoppositecornerwhereSoniawas.

           KaterinaIvanovnaremainedstandingwhereshewas,asthoughthunderstruck.ShecouldnotunderstandhowPyotrPetrovitchcoulddenyhavingenjoyedherfather’shospitality.Thoughshehadinventeditherself,shebelievedinitfirmlybythistime.Shewasstrucktoobythebusinesslike,dryandevencontemptuousmenacingtoneofPyotrPetrovitch.Alltheclamourgraduallydiedawayathisentrance.Notonlywasthis“seriousbusinessman”strikinglyincongruouswiththerestoftheparty,butitwasevident,too,thathehadcomeuponsomematterofconsequence,thatsomeexceptionalcausemusthavebroughthimandthatthereforesomethingwasgoingtohappen.