“Just listen to what this young gentleman here has to say!” cried Belayeff pointing to Aliosha.
Aliosha flushed and then grew suddenly pale and his face became distorted with fear.
“Nikolai Ilitch!” he whispered loudly. “Hush!”
Olga Ivanovna looked at Aliosha in surprise, and then at Belayeff, and then back again at Aliosha.
“Ask him!” Belayeff continued. “That idiot of yours, Pelagia, takes them to a confectioner’s and arranges meetings there between them and their papa. But that isn’t the point. The point is that papa is the victim, and that I am an abandoned scoundrel who has wrecked the lives of both of you!”
“Nikolai Ilitch!” groaned Aliosha. “You gave me your word of honour!”
“Leave me alone!” Belayeff motioned to him impatiently. “This is more important than words of honour. This hypocrisy, these lies are intolerable!”
“I don’t understand!” cried Olga Ivanovna, the tears glistening in her eyes. “Listen, Aliosha,” she asked, turning to her son. “Do you really see your father?”
But Aliosha did not hear her, his eyes were fixed with horror on Belayeff.
“It cannot be possible!” his mother exclaimed, “I must go and ask Pelagia.”