“Yes, and after the wedding.”

“Aren’t you making a mistake?”

“No. Under her persistent, sincere, and intense hatred for you love is flashing out at every moment⁠ ⁠… and madness⁠ ⁠… the sincerest infinite love and⁠ ⁠… madness! On the contrary, behind the love she feels for me, which is sincere too, every moment there are flashes of hatred⁠ ⁠… the most intense hatred! I could never have fancied all these transitions⁠ ⁠… before.”

“But I wonder, though, how could you come here and dispose of the hand of Lizaveta Nikolaevna? Have you the right to do so? Has she authorised you?”

Mavriky Nikolaevitch frowned and for a minute he looked down.