"Very pleased to see you, Prince," he said.

" One moment..." he went on, turning to Magnitski and interrupting his story.

" We have agreed that this is a dinner for recreation, with not a word about business!" and turning again to the narrator he began to laugh afresh.

Prince Andrew looked at the laughing Speranski with astonishment, regret, and disillusionment.

It seemed to him that this was not Speranski but someone else.