Resurrection

She opened the cabinet door and said, "Anatole, you must come to

me. Here is Simeon Ivanovitch, who will read his poems, and you

must absolutely come and read about Garshin."

Nekhludoff noticed that she whispered something to her husband,

and, thinking it was something concerning him, wished to go away,

but she caught him up and said: "I beg your pardon, Prince, I

know you, and, thinking an introduction superfluous, I beg you to

stay and take part in our literary matinee. It will be most

interesting. M. Fanarin will read."

"You see what a lot I have to do," said Fanarin, spreading out

his hands and smilingly pointing to his wife, as if to show how

impossible it was to resist so charming a creature.

Nekhludoff thanked the advocate's wife with extreme politeness

for the honour she did him in inviting him, but refused the

invitation with a sad and solemn look, and left the room.

"What an affected fellow!" said the advocate's wife, when he had

gone out.

In the ante-room the assistant handed him a ready-written

petition, and said that the fees, including the business with the

Senate and the commission, would come to 1,000 roubles, and

explained that M. Fanarin did not usually undertake this kind of

business, but did it only to oblige Nekhludoff.

"And about this petition. Who is to sign it?"

"The prisoner may do it herself, or if this is inconvenient, M.

Fanarin can, if he gets a power of attorney from her."

"Oh, no. I shall take the petition to her and get her to sign it,"

said Nekhludoff, glad of the opportunity of seeing her before the

appointed day.