‘There, forgive me ... forgive me. What did you say?’ ‘I told her that I no longer loved her.’ ‘She asked why?’ ‘I did not disguise the fact that I loved another woman, and that we must part.’ ‘Ah ... and what did she do? Agreed?’ ‘O Irina! what a girl she is! She was all self-sacrifice, all generosity!’ ‘I’ve no doubt, I’ve no doubt ... there was nothing else for her to do, though.’ ‘And not one reproach, not one hard word to me, who have spoiled her whole life, deceived her, pitilessly flung her over....’ Irina scrutinised her finger nails. ‘Tell me, Grigory ... did she love you?’ ‘Yes, Irina, she loved me.’ Irina was silent a minute, she straightened her dress. ‘I must confess,’ she began, ‘I don’t quite understand what induced you to explain matters to her.’ ‘What induced me, Irina! Would you have liked me to lie, to be a hypocrite to her, that pure soul? or did you suppose----’ ‘I supposed nothing,’ Irina interrupted. ‘I must admit I have thought very little about her. I don’t know how to think of two people at once.’ ‘That is, you mean----’ ‘Well, and so what then? Is she going away, that pure soul?’ Irina interrupted a second time. ‘I know nothing,’ answered Litvinov. ‘I am to see her again. But she will not stay.’ ‘Ah! _bon voyage!_’ ‘No, she will not stay. But I’m not thinking of her either now, I am thinking of what you said to me, what you have promised me.’ Irina looked up at him from under her eyelids. ‘Ungrateful one! aren’t you content yet?’ ‘No, Irina, I’m not content. You have made me happy, but I’m not content, and you understand me.’ ‘That is, I----’ ‘Yes, you understand me. Remember your words, remember what you wrote to me. I can’t share you with others; no, no, I can’t consent to the pitiful rôle of secret lover; not my life alone, this other life too I have flung at your feet, I have renounced everything, I have crushed it all to dust, without compunction and beyond recall; but in return I trust, I firmly believe, that you too will keep your promise, and unite your lot with mine for ever.’ ‘You want me to run away with you? I am ready....’ (Litvinov bent down to her hands in ecstasy.) ‘I am ready. I will not go back from my word. But have you yourself thought over all the difficulties--have you made preparations?’ ‘I? I have not had time yet to think over or prepare anything, but only say yes, let me act, and before a month is over....’ ‘A month! we start for Italy in a fortnight.’ ‘A fortnight, then, is enough for me. O Irina, you seem to take my proposition coldly; perhaps it seems unpractical to you, but I am not a boy, I am not used to comforting myself with dreams, I know what a tremendous step this is, I know what a responsibility I am taking on myself; but I can see no other course. Think of it, I must break every tie with the past, if only not to be a contemptible liar in the eyes of the girl I have sacrificed for you!’ Irina drew herself up suddenly and her eyes flashed.