Pagina 138 di 3800

Just as the mother and son, having reached the middle of the

hall, were about to ask their way of an elderly footman who had

sprung up as they entered, the bronze handle of one of the doors

turned and Prince Vasili came out-wearing a velvet coat with a

single star on his breast, as was his custom when at home-taking

leave of a good-looking, dark-haired man. This was the celebrated

Petersburg doctor, Lorrain.

"Then it is certain?" said the prince.

"Prince, humanum est errare, * but..." replied the doctor,

swallowing his r's, and pronouncing the Latin words with a French

accent.

* To err is human.

"Very well, very well..."

Seeing Anna Mikhaylovna and her son, Prince Vasili dismissed the

doctor with a bow and approached them silently and with a look of

inquiry. The son noticed that an expression of profound sorrow

suddenly clouded his mother's face, and he smiled slightly.