Maria Alexandrovna stopped to take breath. Paul moved violently from side to side of his chair. “Zina now goes abroad for the benefit of the prince’s health—to Italy—to Spain,” she continued, “where the myrtle and the lemon tree grow, where the sky is so blue, the beautiful Guadalquiver flows! to the land of love, where none can live without loving; where roses and kisses—so to speak—breathe in the very air around. You follow her—you sacrifice your business, friends, everything, and follow her. And so your love grows and increases with irresistible might. Of course that love is irreproachable—innocent—you will languish for one another—you will meet frequently; of course others will malign and vilify you both, and call your love by baser names—but your love is innocent, as I have purposely said; I am her mother—it is not for me to teach you evil, but good. At all events the prince is not in the condition to keep a very sharp look-out upon you; but if he did, as if there would be the slightest ground for base suspicion? Well, the prince dies at last, and then, who will marry Zina, if not yourself? You are so distant a relative of the prince’s that there could be no obstacle to the match; you marry her—she is young still, and rich. You are a grandee in an instant! you, too, are rich now! I will take care that the prince’s will is made as it should be; and lastly, Zina, now convinced of your loyalty and faithfulness, will look on you hereafter as her hero, as her paragon of virtue and self-sacrifice! Oh! you must be blind,—_blind_, not to observe and calculate your own profit when it lies but a couple of strides from you, grinning at you, as it were, and saying, ‘Here, I am yours, take me! Oh, Paul, Paul!’ ” “Maria Alexandrovna!” cried Mosgliakoff, in great agitation and excitement, “I see it all! I have been rude, and a fool, and a scoundrel too!” He jumped up from his chair and tore his hair. “Yes, and unbusinesslike, that’s the chief thing—unbusinesslike, and blindly so!” added Maria Alexandrovna. “I’m an ass! Maria Alexandrovna,” he cried in despair. “All is lost now, and I loved her to madness!” “Maybe all is not lost yet!” said this successful orator softly, and as though thinking out some idea. “Oh! if only it could be so! help me—teach me. Oh! save me, save me!” Mosgliakoff burst into tears. “My dear boy,” said Maria Alexandrovna, sympathetically, and holding out her hand, “you acted impulsively, from the depth and heat of your passion—in fact, out of your great love for her; you were in despair, you had forgotten yourself; she must understand all that!” “Oh! I love her madly! I am ready to sacrifice everything for her!” cried Mosgliakoff. “Listen! I will justify you before her.” “Oh, Maria Alexandrovna!” “Yes, I will. I take it upon myself! You come with me, and you shall tell her exactly what I said!” “Oh, how kind, how good you are! Can’t we go at once, Maria Alexandrovna?”