“No, it was not the urchin: it was Nicolai Ardalionovitch,” said the prince very firmly, but without raising his voice.

“Well, all right! All right, my dear! I shall put that down to your account.”

She was silent a moment to get breath, and to recover her composure.

“Well!⁠—and what’s the meaning of the ‘poor knight,’ eh?”

“I don’t know in the least; I wasn’t present when the joke was made. It is a joke, I suppose, and that’s all.”

“Well, that’s a comfort, at all events. You don’t suppose she could take any interest in you , do you? Why, she called you an ‘idiot’ herself.”