“My inventions?” he repeated, seeming very startled at that.
“Yes, your inventions.”
“No, no.... Understand, I have no more use for them. There are other things now to think about—more important things.”
“But you were getting on with them so well?”
“No—not really. I was deceiving myself as I have often deceived myself before. Alexei showed me that. He told me that they were no good—”
“But I thought that he encouraged you?”
“Yes—at first—only at first. Afterwards he saw into them more clearly; he changed his mind. I think he was only intending to be kind. A strange man... a strange man....”
“A very strange man. Don’t you let him influence you, Nicholas Markovitch.”
“Influence me? Do you think he does that?” He suddenly came close to me, catching my arm.
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen you often together.”