They entered the large hall, from which one of the doors led to the apartments assigned to Prince Vasíli.

Just as the mother and son, having reached the middle of the hall, were about to ask their way of an elderly footman who had sprung up as they entered, the bronze handle of one of the doors turned and Prince Vasíli came out⁠—wearing a velvet coat with a single star on his breast, as was his custom when at home⁠—taking leave of a good-looking, dark-haired man. This was the celebrated Petersburg doctor, Lorrain.

“Then it is certain?” said the prince.

“Prince, humanum est errare , 4 but⁠ ⁠…” replied the doctor, swallowing his r ’s, and pronouncing the Latin words with a French accent.

“Very well, very well⁠ ⁠…”