Who would have thought that after this evening all those who now
surrounded me with flattering words would pass me by without a greeting,
would turn from me as from some vile and tainted creature?
Bozevsky, pallid and stern, came to me, and bowed low as he kissed my
hand.
"_Ave! Ave ... Maria!_" he said. Then he raised his eyes and looked at
me long and fixedly. Despair was so clearly written on his countenance,
that I felt afraid lest Vassili should notice it; Alexis read the fear
in my eyes, and laughed. "Do you know what I believe?" he said.