“You absolutely must come and see me,” she said in a tone that implied that, for certain considerations he could not know of, this was absolutely necessary.

“On Tuesday between eight and nine. It will give me great pleasure.”

Borís promised to fulfill her wish and was about to begin a conversation with her, when Anna Pávlovna called him away on the pretext that her aunt wished to hear him.

“You know her husband, of course?” said Anna Pávlovna, closing her eyes and indicating Elèn with a sorrowful gesture. “Ah, she is such an unfortunate and charming woman! Don’t mention him before her⁠—please don’t! It is too painful for her!”

When Borís and Anna Pávlovna returned to the others Prince Ippolit had the ear of the company.