“Oh, now you are going to praise him! He will be set up! He puts his hand on his heart, and he is delighted! I never said he was a man without heart, but he is a rascal⁠—that’s the pity of it. And then, he is addicted to drink, and his mind is unhinged, like that of most people who have taken more than is good for them for years. He loves his children⁠—oh, I know that well enough! He respected my aunt, his late wife⁠ ⁠… and he even has a sort of affection for me. He has remembered me in his will.”

“I shall leave you nothing!” exclaimed his uncle angrily.

“Listen to me, Lebedeff,” said the prince in a decided voice, turning his back on the young man. “I know by experience that when you choose, you can be businesslike⁠ ⁠… I have very little time to spare, and if you⁠ ⁠… By the way⁠—excuse me⁠—what is your Christian name? I have forgotten it.”

“Ti⁠—Ti⁠—Timofey.”

“And?”