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"It's a bad business, eh?"

"What is bad, Father?"

"The wife!" said the old prince, briefly and significantly.

"I don't understand!" said Prince Andrew.

"No, it can't be helped, lad," said the prince. "They're all like

that; one can't unmarry. Don't be afraid; I won't tell anyone,

but you know it yourself."

He seized his son by the hand with small bony fingers, shook it,

looked straight into his son's face with keen eyes which seemed

to see through him, and again laughed his frigid laugh.

The son sighed, thus admitting that his father had understood

him. The old man continued to fold and seal his letter, snatching

up and throwing down the wax, the seal, and the paper, with his

accustomed rapidity.

"What's to be done? She's pretty! I will do everything. Make your

mind easy," said he in abrupt sentences while sealing his letter.

Andrew did not speak; he was both pleased and displeased that his

father understood him. The old man got up and gave the letter to

his son.