Страница 519 из 1294

I shall have the honour of visiting you and paying you my

respects at your lodgings not later than to-morrow evening at

eight o'clock precisely, and herewith I venture to present my

earnest and, I may add, imperative request that Rodion

Romanovitch may not be present at our interview--as he offered me

a gross and unprecedented affront on the occasion of my visit to

him in his illness yesterday, and, moreover, since I desire from

you personally an indispensable and circumstantial explanation

upon a certain point, in regard to which I wish to learn your own

interpretation. I have the honour to inform you, in anticipation,

that if, in spite of my request, I meet Rodion Romanovitch, I

shall be compelled to withdraw immediately and then you have only

yourself to blame. I write on the assumption that Rodion

Romanovitch who appeared so ill at my visit, suddenly recovered

two hours later and so, being able to leave the house, may visit

you also.