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Chapter 11

           Whenhisdaughterswerebornhehadassignedtoeachofthem,forherdowry,anestatewiththreehundredserfs;butoneoftheseestateshadalreadybeensold,andtheotherwasmortgagedandtheinterestsomuchinarrearsthatitwouldhavetobesold,sothatitwasimpossibletogiveittoVéra.Norhadheanymoney.

           Berghadalreadybeenengagedamonth,andonlyaweekremainedbeforethewedding,butthecounthadnotyetdecidedinhisownmindthequestionofthedowry,norspokentohiswifeaboutit.AtonetimethecountthoughtofgivinghertheRyazánestateorofsellingaforest,atanothertimeofborrowingmoneyonanoteofhand.AfewdaysbeforetheweddingBergenteredthecount’sstudyearlyonemorningand,withapleasantsmile,respectfullyaskedhisfuturefather-in-lawtolethimknowwhatVéra’sdowrywouldbe.Thecountwassodisconcertedbythislong-foreseeninquirythatwithoutconsiderationhegavethefirstreplythatcameintohishead.“Ilikeyourbeingbusinesslikeaboutit....Ilikeit.Youshallbesatisfied....”

           AndpattingBergontheshoulderhegotup,wishingtoendtheconversation.ButBerg,smilingpleasantly,explainedthatifhedidnotknowforcertainhowmuchVérawouldhaveanddidnotreceiveatleastpartofthedowryinadvance,hewouldhavetobreakmattersoff.

           “Because,consider,Count—ifIallowedmyselftomarrynowwithouthavingdefinitemeanstomaintainmywife,Ishouldbeactingbadly...

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