“This is what I’ll do,” I said, after a moment’s thought. “I’ll go myself today and will see her for sure, for sure. I will manage so as to see her. I give you my word of honour. Only let me confide in Shatov.”

“Tell him that I do desire it, and that I can’t wait any longer, but that I wasn’t deceiving him just now. He went away perhaps because he’s very honest and he didn’t like my seeming to deceive him. I wasn’t deceiving him, I really do want to edit books and found a printing-press.⁠ ⁠…”

“He is honest, very honest,” I assented warmly.

“If it’s not arranged by tomorrow, though, I shall go myself whatever happens, and even if everyone were to know.”

“I can’t be with you before three o’clock tomorrow,” I observed, after a moment’s deliberation.