Chapter 22

           StepanArkadyevitch,withthesamesomewhatsolemnexpressionwithwhichheusedtotakehispresidentialchairathisboard,walkedintoAlexeyAlexandrovitch’sroom.AlexeyAlexandrovitchwaswalkingabouthisroomwithhishandsbehindhisback,thinkingofjustwhatStepanArkadyevitchhadbeendiscussingwithhiswife.

           “I’mnotinterruptingyou?”saidStepanArkadyevitch,onthesightofhisbrother-in-lawbecomingsuddenlyawareofasenseofembarrassmentunusualwithhim.Toconcealthisembarrassmenthetookoutacigarettecasehehadjustboughtthatopenedinanewway,andsniffingtheleather,tookacigaretteoutofit.

           “No.Doyouwantanything?”AlexeyAlexandrovitchaskedwithouteagerness.

           “Yes,Iwished...Iwanted...yes,Iwantedtotalktoyou,”saidStepanArkadyevitch,withsurpriseawareofanunaccustomedtimidity.

           Thisfeelingwassounexpectedandsostrangethathedidnotbelieveitwasthevoiceofconsciencetellinghimthatwhathewasmeaningtodowaswrong.

           StepanArkadyevitchmadeaneffortandstruggledwiththetimiditythathadcomeoverhim.

           “Ihopeyoubelieveinmyloveformysisterandmysincereaffectionandrespectforyou,”hesaid,reddening.

           AlexeyAlexandrovitchstoodstillandsaidnothing,buthisfacestruckStepanArkadyevitchbyitsexpressionofanunresistingsacrifice.

           “Iintended...Iwantedtohavealittletalkwithyouaboutmysisterandyourmutualposition,”hesaid,stillstrugglingwithanunaccustomedconstraint.