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"What are you doing to me?" she muttered, turning pale, and a

sudden anguish clutched at her heart.

He stood up at once.

"I did not bow down to you, I bowed down to all the suffering of

humanity," he said wildly and walked away to the window.

"Listen," he added, turning to her a minute later. "I said just

now to an insolent man that he was not worth your little

finger... and that I did my sister honour making her sit beside

you."

"Ach, you said that to them! And in her presence?" cried Sonia,

frightened. "Sit down with me! An honour! Why, I'm...

dishonourable.... Ah, why did you say that?"