" He read the telegram again, and suddenly the plain meaning of what was said in it struck him.

"And if it is true?" he said to himself.

" If it is true that in the moment of agony and nearness to death she is genuinely penitent, and I, taking it for a trick, refuse to go? That would not only be cruel, and everyone would blame me, but it would be stupid on my part.

" "Piotr, call a coach; I am going to Petersburg," he said to his servant.