Page:The Novels of Ivan Turgenev (volume VII).djvu/215

Rh 'Nezhdanov,' Paklin hazarded, 'has been led away, perhaps, but his heart'

'Is good,' put in Sipyagin: 'to be sure to be sure, like Markelov's. They all have good hearts. Probably he too has taken part—and will be too We shall have to protect him too.'

Paklin clasped his hands before his breast.

'Ah, yes, yes, your Excellency! Extend your protection to him! Indeed he deserves  deserves your sympathy.'

'H'm,' said Sipyagin; 'you think so?'

'If not for his own sake, at least for your niece's; for his wife's! ('O Lord! O Lord!' Paklin was thinking, 'what lies I'm telling!')

Sipyagin puckered up his eyes.

'You are, I see, a very devoted friend. That's excellent; that's very praiseworthy, young man. And so, you say, they're living near here?'

'Yes, your Excellency; at a large establishment ' Paklin bit his tongue.

'Tut tut-tut  at Solomin's! so they're there! I was aware of that—indeed, I'd been told so, I'd been informed. Yes.' (Mr. Sipyagin was not in the least aware of it, and no one had told him so; but recollecting Solomin's visit, and their midnight interview, he