“Don’t go, Pyotr Petrovitch,” said Dounia, “you intended to spend the evening. Besides, you wrote yourself that you wanted to have an explanation with mother.”

“Precisely so, Avdotya Romanovna,” Pyotr Petrovitch answered impressively, sitting down again, but still holding his hat. “I certainly desired an explanation with you and your honoured mother upon a very important point indeed. But as your brother cannot speak openly in my presence of some proposals of Mr. Svidrigaïlov, I, too, do not desire and am not able to speak openly⁠ ⁠… in the presence of others⁠ ⁠… of certain matters of the greatest gravity. Moreover, my most weighty and urgent request has been disregarded.⁠ ⁠…”

Assuming an aggrieved air, Luzhin relapsed into dignified silence.