“Why, as I told you.”

“Can it be true?”

“You still don’t believe it?”

“Will you really cast me off like an old worn-out shoe?”

“I’ll see,” laughed Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch. “Come, let me go.”

“Wouldn’t you like me to stand on the steps⁠ ⁠… for fear I might by chance overhear something⁠ ⁠… for the rooms are small?”

“That’s as well. Stand on the steps. Take my umbrella.”

“Your umbrella.⁠ ⁠… Am I worth it?” said the captain over-sweetly.

“Anyone is worthy of an umbrella.”