VII

word, and at once she did as he desired⁠—at once she wrote me a note to beg of me to forbear! Of course, the relations between the pair had, from the first, been a riddle to me⁠—they had been so ever since I had first made their acquaintance. But of late I had remarked in her a strong aversion for, even a contempt for⁠—him, while, for his part, he had scarcely even looked at her, but had behaved towards her always in the most churlish fashion. Yes, I had noted that. Also, Polina herself had mentioned to me her dislike for him, and delivered herself of some remarkable confessions on the subject. Hence, he must have got her into his power somehow⁠—somehow he must be holding her as in a vice.