“No, I want your opinion. What should you do yourself, if you were wearing crape, under the circumstances? My own idea was, that if I left it on, I should be giving a proof of the fidelity of my affections. A very flattering recommendation, eh, sir?” “Oh, take it off, of course.” “Do you really think it’s a matter of ’of course’?” Pavel Pavlovitch reflected. “No,” he continued, “do you know, I think I’d rather leave it on.” “Well, do as you like! He doesn’t trust me, at all events, which is one good thing,” thought Velchaninoff. They left the house at last. Pavel looked over his companion’s smart costume with intense satisfaction. Velchaninoff was greatly surprised at Pavel’s conduct, but not less so at his own. At the gate there stood a very superior open carriage. “H’m! so you had a carriage in waiting, had you? Then you were quite convinced that I would consent to come down with you, I suppose?” “I took the carriage for my own use, but I was nearly sure you would come,” said Pavel Pavlovitch, who wore the air of a man whose cup of happiness is full to the brim. “Don’t you think you are a little too sanguine in trusting so much to my benevolence?” asked Velchaninoff, as they took their seats and started. He smiled as he spoke, but his heart was full of annoyance. “Well, Alexey Ivanovitch, it is not for _you_ to call me a fool for that,” replied Pavel, firmly and impressively. “H’m! and Liza?” thought Velchaninoff, but he chased the idea away, he felt as though it were sacrilege to think of her here; and immediately another thought came in, namely, how small, how petty a creature he must be himself to harbour such a thought—such a mean, paltry sentiment in connection with Liza’s sacred name. So angry was he, that he felt as though he must stop the carriage and get out, even though it cost him a struggle with Pavel Pavlovitch to do so. But at this moment Pavel spoke, and the old feeling of desire to go with him re-entered his soul. “Alexey Ivanovitch,” Pavel said, “are you a judge of articles of value?” “What sort of articles?” “Diamonds.” “Yes.” “I wish to take down a present with me. What do you think? Ought I to give her one, or not?” “Quite unnecessary, I should think.” “But I wish to do it, badly. The only thing is, what shall I give?—a whole set, brooch, ear-rings, bracelet, and all, or only one article?” “How much do you wish to spend?” “Oh, four or five hundred roubles.” “Bosh!” “What, too much?” “Buy one bracelet for about a hundred.” This advice depressed Pavel Pavlovitch; he grew wondrous melancholy. He was terribly anxious to spend a lot of money, and buy the whole set. He insisted upon the necessity of doing so.