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"Yes, I feel a kind of oppression," she said in reply to the

prince's question as to how she felt.

"Do you want anything?"

"No, merci, mon pere."

"Well, all right, all right."

He left the room and went to the waiting room where Alpatych

stood with bowed head.

"Has the snow been shoveled back?"

"Yes, your excellency. Forgive me for heaven's sake... It was

only my stupidity."

"All right, all right," interrupted the prince, and laughing his

unnatural way, he stretched out his hand for Alpatych to kiss,

and then proceeded to his study.

Prince Vasili arrived that evening. He was met in the avenue by

coachmen and footmen, who, with loud shouts, dragged his sleighs

up to one of the lodges over the road purposely laden with snow.

Prince Vasili and Anatole had separate rooms assigned to them.