“What did you mean, sir, that he didn’t exist? Explain yourself,” he repeated, angrily.

“Because he didn’t exist⁠—never could and never did⁠—there! You’d better drop the subject, I warn you!”

“And this is my son⁠—my own son⁠—whom I⁠—oh, gracious Heaven! Eropegoff⁠—Eroshka Eropegoff didn’t exist!”

“Ha, ha! it’s Eroshka now,” laughed Hippolyte.

“No, sir, Kapitoshka⁠—not Eroshka. I mean, Kapiton Alexeyevitch⁠—retired major⁠—married Maria Petrovna Lu⁠—Lu⁠—he was my friend and companion⁠—Lutugoff⁠—from our earliest beginnings. I closed his eyes for him⁠—he was killed. Kapiton Eropegoff never existed! tfu!”