“Yes, a new happiness was revealed to me of which man cannot be deprived,” he thought as he lay in the semidarkness of the quiet hut, gazing fixedly before him with feverish wide open eyes. “A happiness lying beyond material forces, outside the material influences that act on man⁠—a happiness of the soul alone, the happiness of loving. Every man can understand it, but to conceive it and enjoin it was possible only for God. But how did God enjoin that law? And why was the Son⁠ ⁠… ?”

And suddenly the sequence of these thoughts broke off, and Prince Andréy heard (without knowing whether it was a delusion or reality) a soft whispering voice incessantly and rhythmically repeating “ piti-piti-piti ,” and then “ titi ,” and then again “ piti-piti-piti ,” and “ titi