'He questioned Prince G. about me', Nezhdanov muttered thickly, taking up his position again at the window: he probably knows my whole story now.'
'Not probably, but certainly! What of it? I'll bet you it was just that that gave him the idea of taking you as a tutor! Say what you like, you 're an aristocrat yourself by blood, you know. And, of course, that means you're one of themselves! But I've stayed too long with you; it's time I was at the office, at the exploiter's! Good-bye for the present, my dear boy!'
Paklin was going towards the door, but he stopped and turned round.
'Listen, Alyosha,' he said in an ingratiating tone: 'you refused me just now; you will have money now, I know, but still allow me to make some sacrifice, however trifling, for the common cause! There's no other way I can help, so let me at least with my purse! Look; I put a ten-rouble bill on the table! Is it accepted?'
Nezhdanov made no answer, and did not stir.
'Silence gives consent! Thanks!' cried Paklin joyfully, and he disappeared.
Nezhdanov was left alone. . . . He went oo staring through the window-pane into the dark narrow court, into which no ray of sunshine fell even in summer, and dark too was his face.
42
