"Sasha a prize—oh, I am glad!" exclaimed Vera—"and for what?"
"For fencing; he is the best fencer of all here; see, he is still busy with that girl, his latest craze; in charity we will hope that he has not yet seen you."
"If he did, I think he would not recognise me; he does not know I am here and it is five years since we met. Presently you shall go and bring him to me, but not yet. Tell me, Constantine, is Sasha liked here?"
Constantine glanced at his cousin; he caught her eye and smiled.
"Some people like him, I suppose," he said.
"Of whom Constantine Demidof is evidently not one," said Vera, laughing merrily. "Why not, my friend?"
"How should I? I scarcely know him, he is two years senior to me here, and that means much."
"I see. I should say, to look at him, that he has a good opinion of himself."
"Oh, he certainly has that," Constantine laughed. "He is thought good-looking, you know, and the girls flatter him, I suppose."
"Nevertheless his clothes fit very badly. In Parisian clothes he might look well, yes, he is not bad; you shall bring him to me, presently, but do not say who I am; you shall say that there is a lady who desires to have him presented to her."