Chapter 3

           GeneralIvanFedorovitchEpanchinwasstandinginthemiddleoftheroom,andgazedwithgreatcuriosityattheprinceasheentered.Heevenadvancedacoupleofstepstomeethim.

           Theprincecameforwardandintroducedhimself.

           “Quiteso,”repliedthegeneral,“andwhatcanIdoforyou?”

           “Oh,Ihavenospecialbusiness;myprincipalobjectwastomakeyouracquaintance.Ishouldnotliketodisturbyou.Idonotknowyourtimesandarrangementshere,yousee,butIhaveonlyjustarrived.Icamestraightfromthestation.IamcomedirectfromSwitzerland.”

           Thegeneralverynearlysmiled,butthoughtbetterofitandkepthissmileback.Thenhereflected,blinkedhiseyes,staredathisguestoncemorefromheadtofoot;thenabruptlymotionedhimtoachair,satdownhimself,andwaitedwithsomeimpatiencefortheprincetospeak.

           Ganiastoodathistableinthefarcorneroftheroom,turningoverpapers.

           “Ihavenotmuchtimeformakingacquaintances,asarule,”saidthegeneral,“butas,ofcourse,youhaveyourobjectincoming,I—”

           “IfeltsureyouwouldthinkIhadsomeobjectinviewwhenIresolvedtopayyouthisvisit,”theprinceinterrupted;“butIgiveyoumyword,beyondthepleasureofmakingyouracquaintanceIhadnopersonalobjectwhatever.”

           “Thepleasureis,ofcourse,mutual;butlifeisnotallpleasure,asyouareaware.