‘You know Madame Ratmirov?’
‘As you see.’
‘And you know her well?’
‘I am to a certain degree a friend of hers.’
Litvinov was silent for a little.
‘Allow me to ask you,’ he began at last, ‘do you know why Irina Pavlovna wants to see me?’
Potugin went up to the window.
‘To a certain degree I do. She was, as far as I can judge, very pleased at meeting you,—well,—and she wants to renew your former relations.’
‘Renew,’ repeated Litvinov. ‘Excuse my indiscretion, but allow me to question you a little more. Do you know what was the nature of those relations?’
‘Strictly speaking ... no, I don’t know. But I imagine,’ added Potugin, turning suddenly to Litvinov and looking affectionately at him, ‘I imagine that they were of some value. Irina Pavlovna spoke very highly of you, and I was obliged to promise her I would bring you. Will you come?’