“I also wanted to ask you,” continued Prince Andréy, “if I’m killed and if I have a son, do not let him be taken away from you⁠—as I said yesterday⁠ ⁠… let him grow up with you.⁠ ⁠… Please.”

“Not let the wife have him?” said the old man, and laughed.

They stood silent, facing one another. The old man’s sharp eyes were fixed straight on his son’s. Something twitched in the lower part of the old prince’s face.

“We’ve said goodbye. Go!” he suddenly shouted in a loud, angry voice, opening his door.

“What is it? What?” asked both princesses when they saw for a moment at the door Prince Andréy and the figure of the old man in a white dressing gown, spectacled and wigless, shouting in an angry voice.

Prince Andréy sighed and made no reply.

“Well!” he said, turning to his wife.