V。
ITwaslatenow，nearlyhalf-pasttwo，andtheprincedidnotfindGeneralEpanchinathome。Heleftacard，anddeterminedtolookupColia，whohadaroomatasmallhotelnear。Coliawasnotin，buthewasinformedthathemightbebackshortly，andhadleftwordthatifhewerenotinbyhalf-pastthreeitwastobeunderstoodthathehadgonetoPavlofsktoGeneralEpanchin’s，andwoulddinethere。Theprincedecidedtowaittillhalf-pastthree，andorderedsomedinner。Athalf-pastthreetherewasnosignofColia。Theprincewaiteduntilfouro’clock，andthenstrolledoffmechanicallywhereverhisfeetshouldcarryhim。
InearlysummerthereareoftenmagnificentdaysinSt。
Petersburg——bright，hotandstill。Thishappenedtobesuchaday。
Forsometimetheprincewanderedaboutwithoutaimorobject。Hedidnotknowthetownwell。Hestoppedtolookabouthimonbridges，atstreetcorners。Heenteredaconfectioner’sshoptorest，once。Hewasinastateofnervousexcitementandperturbation；henoticednothingandnoone；andhefeltacravingforsolitude，tobealonewithhisthoughtsandhisemotions，andtogivehimselfuptothempassively。Heloathedtheideaoftryingtoanswerthequestionsthatwouldriseupinhisheartandmind。\"Iamnottoblameforallthis，\"hethoughttohimself，halfunconsciously。