" Evidently the prince understood her, and also understood, as he had done at Anna Pavlovna's, that it would be difficult to get rid of Anna Mikhaylovna.

"Would not such a meeting be too trying for him, dear Anna Mikhaylovna?" said he.

" Let us wait until evening.

The doctors are expecting a crisis.

" "But one cannot delay, Prince, at such a moment! Consider that the welfare of his soul is at stake.