“I am determined you shall not meet Tychkov.”
“I must,” replied Raisky.
“I will not have it, Boris. No good can come of it. I will follow your advice and speak to Ivan Ivanovich; then we will see whether you need go to Paulina Karpovna. Ask Ivan Ivanovich to come here, but say not a word to Vera. She has heard nothing so far, and God grant that she never will.”
Raisky went to Vera, and his place with Tatiana Markovna was taken by Tushin.
Tatiana Markovna could not disguise her agitation when Ivan Ivanovich entered her room. He made his bow in silence.
“How did you find Vera?” she asked, after a pause.
“She seemed to be well and calm.”
“God grant that she is! But how much trouble all this has caused you,” she added in a low voice, trying to avoid his eyes.
“What does that matter, if Vera Vassilievna has peace.”
“She was beginning to recover, and I too felt happier, so long as our distress was concealed.” Tushin started as if he had been shot. “Ivan Ivanovich,” continued Tatiana Markovna, “there is all sorts of gossip in the town. Borushka and I in a moment of anger tore the mask from that hypocrite Tychkov—you have no doubt heard the story. Such an outburst ill fitted my years, but he had been blowing his own trumpet so abominably that it was unendurable. Now he, in his turn, is tearing the mask from us.”