" "Oh, do please explain," said Stepan Arkadyevitch; "what does it mean? Yesterday I was seeing him on my sister's behalf, and I asked him to give me a final answer.

He gave me no answer, and said he would think it over.

But this morning, instead of an answer, I received an invitation from Countess Lidia Ivanovna for this evening.

" "Ah, so that's it, that's it!" said Princess Myakaya gleefully, "they're going to ask Landau what he's to say.

" "Ask Landau? What for? Who or what's Landau?" "What! you don't know Jules Landau, _le fameux Jules Landau, le clairvoyant_? He's crazy too, but on him your sister's fate depends.