"Did the Princess herself tell you this?" She laid an emphasis on the word "you."
"Not me, but Varvara," admitted Peredonov. "But it comes to the same thing."
"You rely too much on your cousin's word," said Vershina spitefully. "But tell me, is she much older than you? Say, by fifteen years? Or more? she must be under fifty."
"Nonsense," said Peredonov angrily, "she's not yet thirty!"
Vershina laughed.
"Please tell me," she said with unconcealed derision. "Surely, she looks much older than you. Of course, it's not my business, it's not my affair. Still, it is a pity that such a good-looking, clever young man should not have the position he deserves."
Peredonov surveyed himself with great self-satisfaction. But there was no smile on his pink face and he seemed hurt because everybody did not appreciate him as Vershina did.
"Even without patronage you'll go far," continued Vershina, "surely the authorities will recognise your value. Why should you hang on to Varvara? And none even of the Routilov girls would suit you; they're too frivolous and you need a more practical wife. You might do much worse than marry Marta!"
Peredonov looked at his watch.
"Time to go home," he observed and rose to say good-bye.