\"Oh，nonsense，nonsense，\"saidthegeneral，withdecision。\"Whatextraordinaryideasyouhave，Gania！Asifshewouldhint；that’snotherwayatall。Besides，whatcouldyougiveher，withouthavingthousandsatyourdisposal？Youmighthavegivenheryourportrait，however。Hassheeveraskedyouforit？\"
\"No，notyet。Verylikelysheneverwill。Isupposeyouhaven’tforgottenabouttonight，haveyou，IvanFedorovitch？Youwereoneofthosespeciallyinvited，youknow。\"
\"Ohno，Irememberallright，andIshallgo，ofcourse。Ishouldthinkso！She’stwenty-fiveyearsoldtoday！And，youknow，Gania，youmustbereadyforgreatthings；shehaspromisedbothmyselfandAfanasyIvanovitchthatshewillgiveadecidedanswertonight，yesorno。Sobeprepared！\"
Ganiasuddenlybecamesoillateasethathisfacegrewpalerthanever。
\"Areyousureshesaidthat？\"heasked，andhisvoiceseemedtoquiverashespoke。