Paklin discreetly and gratefully lighted a cigar.
'Now, I fancy, is a good moment,' he thought; but Sipyagin anticipated him.
'You spoke to me, too, do you remember?' he said carelessly, interrupting himself to look at his cigar, and to jog his hat forwards on to his forehead, 'you spoke . . . eh? you spoke of . . . that friend of yours who has married my . . . relation. Do you see them? They are settled not far from here?'
'Aha!' thought Paklin, 'Sila, look out!'
'I have seen them only once, your Excellency! they are living, as a fact . . . at no great distance from here.'
'You understand, of course,' Sipyagin went on in the same manner, 'that I have no further serious interest, as I explained to you, either in that frivolous girl or in your friend. Good heavens! I've no prejudices, but you will agree with me, this is beyond everything. It's folly, you know. Though I imagine they have been more drawn together by political sympathies' ('Politics!' he repeated with a shrug of his shoulders) 'than by any other feeling.'
'Indeed I imagine so, your Excellency!'
'Yes, Mr. Nezhdanov was a red-hot republican. I must do him the justice to admit that he made no secret of his opinions.'
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