Arátoff held his peace for a space.—"But hast thou also read it in the newspaper?" he asked:—"Or perhaps thou hast been to Kazán thyself?"
"I have been to Kazán, in fact; the Princess and I conducted her thither. She went on the stage there, and had great success. Only I did not remain there until the catastrophe…. I was in Yaroslávl."
"In Yaroslávl?"
"Yes; I escorted the Princess thither…. She has settled in Yaroslávl now."
"But hast thou trustworthy information?"
"The most trustworthy sort … at first hand! I made acquaintance in Kazán with her family.—But stay, my dear fellow … this news seems to agitate thee greatly.—But I remember that Clara did not please thee that time! Thou wert wrong! She was a splendid girl—only her head! She had an ungovernable head! I was greatly distressed about her!"
Arátoff did not utter a word, but dropped down on a chair, and after waiting a while he asked Kupfer to tell him … he hesitated.
"What?" asked Kupfer.
"Why … everything," replied Arátoff slowly.—"About her family, for instance … and so forth. Everything thou knowest!"
"But does that interest thee?—Certainly!"