“Liza, I beg you to desist,” said Prince Andréy still more emphatically.

Pierre, who had been growing more and more agitated as he listened to all this, rose and approached the princess. He seemed unable to bear the sight of tears and was ready to cry himself.

“Calm yourself, Princess! It seems so to you because⁠ ⁠… I assure you I myself have experienced⁠ ⁠… and so⁠ ⁠… because⁠ ⁠… No, excuse me! An outsider is out of place here⁠ ⁠… No, don’t distress yourself⁠ ⁠… Goodbye!”

Prince Andréy caught him by the hand.

“No, wait, Pierre! The princess is too kind to wish to deprive me of the pleasure of spending the evening with you.”

“No, he thinks only of himself,” muttered the princess without restraining her angry tears.

“Liza!” said Prince Andréy dryly, raising his voice to the pitch which indicates that patience is exhausted.