Chapter 7

           Theyoungfellowaccompanyingthegeneralwasabouttwenty-eight,tall,andwellbuilt,withahandsomeandcleverface,andbrightblackeyes,fulloffunandintelligence.

           Aglayadidnotsomuchasglanceatthenewarrivals,butwentonwithherrecitation,gazingattheprincethewhileinanaffectedmanner,andathimalone.Itwascleartohimthatshewasdoingallthiswithsomespecialobject.

           Butthenewguestsatleastsomewhateasedhisstrainedanduncomfortableposition.Seeingthemapproaching,herosefromhischair,andnoddingamicablytothegeneral,signedtohimnottointerrupttherecitation.Hethengotbehindhischair,andstoodtherewithhislefthandrestingonthebackofit.Thankstothischangeofposition,hewasabletolistentotheballadwithfarlessembarrassmentthanbefore.Mrs.Epanchinhadalsotwicemotionedtothenewarrivalstobequiet,andstaywheretheywere.

           Theprincewasmuchinterestedintheyoungmanwhohadjustentered.HeeasilyconcludedthatthiswasEvgeniePavlovitchRadomski,ofwhomhehadalreadyheardmentionseveraltimes.Hewaspuzzled,however,bytheyoungman’splainclothes,forhehadalwaysheardofEvgeniePavlovitchasamilitaryman.AnironicalsmileplayedonEvgenie’slipsallthewhiletherecitationwasproceeding,whichshowedthathe,too,wasprobablyinthesecretofthe‘poorknight’joke.ButithadbecomequiteadifferentmatterwithAglaya.Alltheaffectationofmannerwhichshehaddisplayedatthebeginningdisappearedastheballadproceeded.