“Give me a chair!” cried Lizabetha Prokofievna, but she seized one for herself and sat down opposite to Hippolyte. “Colia, you must go home with him,” she commanded, “and tomorrow I will come myself.”

“Will you let me ask the prince for a cup of tea?⁠ ⁠… I am exhausted. Do you know what you might do, Lizabetha Prokofievna? I think you wanted to take the prince home with you for tea. Stay here, and let us spend the evening together. I am sure the prince will give us all some tea. Forgive me for being so free and easy⁠—but I know you are kind, and the prince is kind, too. In fact, we are all good-natured people⁠—it is really quite comical.”

The prince bestirred himself to give orders. Lebedeff hurried out, followed by Vera.