She did not say what she had said the evening before to her lover, that _he_ was her husband, and her husband was superfluous; she did not even think that.

She felt all the justice of his words, and only said softly: "You cannot describe my position as worse than I feel it to be myself; but what are you saying all this for?" "What am I saying it for? what for?" he went on, as angrily.

"That you may know that since you have not carried out my wishes in regard to observing outward decorum, I will take measures to put an end to this state of things.

" "Soon, very soon, it will end, anyway," she said; and again, at the thought of death near at hand and now desired, tears came into her eyes.

"It will end sooner than you and your lover have planned! If you must have the satisfaction of animal passion..." "Alexey Alexandrovitch! I won't say it's not generous, but it's not like a gentleman to strike anyone who's down.