face I have once met; I always recollect it. Eh . . . eh . . . eh . . . precisely . . . where have I met you?'
'You are right, your Excellency. . . . I had the honour of meeting you in Petersburg at a person's who . . . who . . . since then . . . has unfortunately . . . incurred your displeasure.'
Sipyagin got up quickly from his chair.
'At Mr. Nezhdanov's! I remember now. Surely you haven't come from him?'
'Oh, no, your Excellency; quite the contrary . . . I . . .'
Sipyagin sat down again.
'That's as well. For in that case I would promptly have asked you to leave the house. I can give no admittance to any mediator between me and Mr. Nezhdanov. Mr. Nezhdanov has shown me one of those affronts which are not forgotten. . . . I am above revenge, but I wish to know nothing of him, nor of the girl—more depraved in mind than in heart' (this phrase Sipyagin must have repeated thirty times since Marianna's flight)—'who could bring herself to leave the home where she had been cared for to become the mistress of a baseborn adventurer! It's enough for them that I consent to forget them!'
At this last word Sipyagin made a downward motion of his wrist away from him.
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