Chapter 26

           

           Thegray-hairedvaletwassittingdrowsilylisteningtothesnoringoftheprince,whowasinhislargestudy.Fromthefarsideofthehousethroughthecloseddoorscamethesoundofdifficultpassages—twentytimesrepeated—ofasonatabyDussek.

           Justthenaclosedcarriageandanotherwithahooddroveuptotheporch.PrinceAndrewgotoutofthecarriage,helpedhislittlewifetoalight,andletherpassintothehousebeforehim.OldTíkhon,wearingawig,puthisheadoutofthedooroftheantechamber,reportedinawhisperthattheprincewassleeping,andhastilyclosedthedoor.Tíkhonknewthatneithertheson’sarrivalnoranyotherunusualeventmustbeallowedtodisturbtheappointedorderoftheday.PrinceAndrewapparentlyknewthisaswellasTíkhon;helookedathiswatchasiftoascertainwhetherhisfather’shabitshadchangedsincehewasathomelast,and,havingassuredhimselfthattheyhadnot,heturnedtohiswife.

           “Hewillgetupintwentyminutes.LetusgoacrosstoMary’sroom,”hesaid.

           Thelittleprincesshadgrownstouterduringthistime,buthereyesandhershort,downy,smilinglipliftedwhenshebegantospeakjustasmerrilyandprettilyasever.

           “Why,thisisapalace!”shesaidtoherhusband,lookingaroundwiththeexpressionwithwhichpeoplecomplimenttheirhostataball.“Let’scome,quick,quick!”Andwithaglanceround,shesmiledatTíkhon,atherhusband,andatthefootmanwhoaccompaniedthem.

           “IsthatMarypracticing?Let’sgoquietlyandtakeherbysurprise.”

           PrinceAndrewfollowedherwithacourteousbutsadexpression.

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