call yourself a liberal! Why, you've a roaring lion!' The door opened, and with quick steps there entered first Valentina Mihalovna, and behind her Kallomyetsev.
'What is the meaning of this, Boris? you have ordered the coach out? you are going to the town? what has happened?'
Sipyagin went up to his wife, and took her by her arm, between the wrist and the elbow. 'Il faut vous armer de courage, ma chère. Your brother is arrested.'
'My brother? Sergei? What for?'
'He has been preaching Socialistic theories to the peasants!' (Kallomyetsev gave vent to a faint whistle.) 'Yes! He has been preaching revolution! he has been making propaganda! They seized him, and gave him up. Now he's—in the town.'
'The madman! But who has told you this?'
'Mr.. . . Mr.. . . what's his name? Mr. Konopatin brought this news.'
Valentina Mihalovna glanced at Paklin. He gave a forlorn bow. 'My! what an elegant female!' was his thought. Even at such painful moments . . . alas, how susceptible was poor Paklin to feminine charms!
'And you mean to go to the town—so late?'
'I shall find the governor still up.'
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