'Come—this way,' she said to him, putting up her open parasol over her shoulder. 'I 'm quite at home in this park; I will take you to the best places. And do you know what? (she very often made use of this expression), we won't talk just now about that sale, we 'll have a thorough discussion of that after lunch; but you must tell me now about yourself . . . so that I may know whom I have to do with. And afterwards, if you like, I will tell you about myself Do you agree?'
'But, Maria Nikolaevna, what interest can there be for you . . .'
'Stop, stop. You don't understand me. I don't want to flirt with you.' Maria Nikolaevna shrugged her shoulders. 'He's got a betrothed like an antique statue, is it likely I am going to flirt with him? But you've something to sell, and I 'm the purchaser. I want to know what your goods are like. Well, of course, you must show what they are like. I don't only want to know what I 'm buying, but whom I 'm buying from. That was my father's rule. Come, begin . . . come, if not from childhood—come now, have you been long abroad? And where have you been up till now? Only don't walk so fast, we're in no hurry.'
'I came here from Italy, where I spent several months.'
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