"I shall go at once to Rogatchyóff. I shall force him to wed her this very day. Be assured, I shall not permit him to jeer at us...."
"But ... Vasíly Ivánovitch ... you ..." whispered Olga.
He stared long and coldly at her. She relapsed into silence.
"Mamma, give me your word not to disturb her until my arrival. See--she is barely alive. Yes, and you require rest yourself. Trust to me: I answer for everything; in any case, await my return. I repeat to you--do not kill her, nor yourself--rely upon me."
"Mamma,"--he said: "come with me. Leave her alone, I beg of you."
Anna Pávlovna rose, went to the holy picture, made a reverence to the floor, and softly followed her son. Olga Ivánovna followed her silently and immovably with her eyes. Vasíly hastily came back, seized her hand, whispered in her ear: "Trust to me, and do not betray us,"--and immediately withdrew....
"Boursier!" he shouted, as he ran swiftly down the stairs.--"Boursier!"
A quarter of an hour later he was seated in his calash with his servant.
Old Rogatchyóff was not at home that day. He had gone to the county town, to buy seersucker for kaftans to clothe his retainers. Pável Afanásievitch was sitting in his study, and inspecting a collection of faded butterflies. Elevating his eyebrows, and thrusting forth his lips, he was cautiously turning about with a pin the large wings of the "nocturnal sphinx," when suddenly, he felt a small but heavy hand on his shoulder. He glanced round--before him stood Vasíly.
"Good morning, Vasíly Ivánovitch,"--said he, not without some surprise.
Vasíly looked at him and sat down in front of him on a chair.
Pável Afanásievitch was about to smile ... but glanced at Vasíly, relaxed, opened his mouth, and clasped his hands.
"Come, tell me, Pável Afanásievitch,"--began Vasíly, suddenly:--"do you intend to have the wedding soon?"
"I?... soon .... of course.... I, so far as I am concerned .... however, that is as you and your sister choose.... I, for my part, am ready to-morrow, if you like."
"Very good, very good. You are a very impatient man, Pável Afanásievitch."
"Listen,"--added Vasíly Ivánovitch, rising to his feet:--"I know everything; you understand me, and I order you to marry Olga without delay, to-morrow."