Chapter 13

           Theprincewasverynervousashereachedtheouterdoor;buthedidhisbesttoencouragehimselfwiththereflectionthattheworstthingthatcouldhappentohimwouldbethathewouldnotbereceived,or,perhaps,received,thenlaughedatforcoming.

           Buttherewasanotherquestion,whichterrifiedhimconsiderably,andthatwas:whatwashegoingtodowhenhedidgetin?Andtothisquestionhecouldfashionnosatisfactoryreply.

           IfonlyhecouldfindanopportunityofcomingcloseuptoNastasiaPhilipovnaandsayingtoher:“Don’truinyourselfbymarryingthisman.Hedoesnotloveyou,heonlylovesyourmoney.Hetoldmesohimself,andsodidAglayaIvanovna,andIhavecomeonpurposetowarnyou”—buteventhatdidnotseemquitealegitimateorpracticablethingtodo.Then,again,therewasanotherdelicatequestion,towhichhecouldnotfindananswer;darednot,infact,thinkofit;butattheveryideaofwhichhetrembledandblushed.However,inspiteofallhisfearsandheart-quakingshewentin,andaskedforNastasiaPhilipovna.

           Nastasiaoccupiedamedium-sized,butdistinctlytasteful,flat,beautifullyfurnishedandarranged.AtoneperiodofthesefiveyearsofPetersburglife,Totskihadcertainlynotsparedhisexpenditureuponher.