Chapter 7 Four

The three daughters of Ye Panqin's family are all in good health, each of them grows like a flower. They are tall, with round shoulders, admirable, tall and plump breasts, and their arms are as strong and powerful as a man's. Because they are healthy and energetic, they sometimes like to eat a lot, and they don't make any effort to hide this.Their mother, Lizaveta Prokofievna, the general's wife, sometimes cast aside her eyes at their open and voracious appetites, but because of some of the opinions of the daughters towards her, although she pretended to be respectful. It seems that, in fact, these opinions have long since lost their original and undisputed authority among them, and even the concerted actions formed by these three ladies often have the potential to overwhelm Gaotang’s old mother. I think it's better not to argue and just give in.It is true that human nature is often involuntary and unwilling to submit to wise decisions.Lizaveta Prokofievna grew more and more capricious and impatient year after year, and even turned into a monster, but because she still had a very obedient and The husband who has been trained to be obedient, so she has nowhere to vent her grievances, and usually vents on him. After that, the peaceful atmosphere in the family is re-established, and everything is going well. It went on.

Then again, the general's wife didn't lose her appetite, and usually at half past twelve, she and her daughters enjoyed a hearty breakfast that was almost as good as lunch.It was even earlier for the ladies to drink coffee. At ten o'clock, when they just woke up, they sat on the bed and each had a cup.That's what they love to do. After this rule was established, it has been followed to this day.At half past twelve, the table was set in the small dining room next to the mother's room. If time allowed, the general himself sometimes came to enjoy this intimate family breakfast.In addition to tea, coffee, cheese, honey, butter, the special fritters that the general's wife likes to eat most, and steak, etc., there is even a thick hot chicken soup.On the morning when our story begins, the whole family gathered in the dining room and waited for the general, who promised to come punctually for dinner by half past twelve.If he was even a minute late, they would have sent for him at once, but he was on time.He walked up to his wife, said hello to her, kissed her slender hand, and then he noticed that there seemed to be a very special expression on her face this time.Although he had had a premonition the night before that this would certainly happen today because of a "nonsense" (as he was accustomed to say), and before going to bed yesterday he was dreading that it was going to happen, but, Now, after all, my heart is beating again.The daughters came up to him and kissed him, and while they were not angry with him, there seemed to be something special about him that could only be conveyed.It is true that, owing to certain circumstances, the General had become particularly suspicious of late, but, as he was an experienced and wily father and husband, countermeasures were immediately taken.

If we stop here, with the aid of some illustrations, to describe directly and precisely the relations and situation in which we find General Epanchin's family at the beginning of this novel, perhaps we will not be quite so far. To the detriment of the vividness and vividness of our story.We have just said that the General himself was not a learned man, on the contrary, as he himself said, "self-taught", but then again, he was an experienced husband and A wily father.For example, he made certain rules not to urge his daughters to be busy getting married, that is to say, "not to nagging them to dislike them", and not to make them uneasy by their parents' over-concern about their well-being, even In some of the most intelligent families, where there are several young ladies in the boudoir, this often happens naturally, too.He even took pains to make Lizaveta Prokofievna follow this definite rule, although things were generally difficult—difficult because it was unnatural.However, there is still a very reasonable reason for the general to do so. This reasoning is based on facts, and the facts are very obvious.Since the parents let the daughters in the boudoir completely make up their own minds and make up their own minds, in the end, they will naturally have to use their own brains, and then it will come to fruition, because it is voluntary, and they will not be self-willed and too picky up.As long as the parents are not paralyzed, observe as little as possible without their awareness, lest some strange choice or unnatural deviation occur, and then seize the opportune moment to bring about it all at once, and exert all their influence to make things happen. Done.In the final analysis, not to mention anything else, their property and social status alone are increasing exponentially year after year.Therefore, the longer the delay, the higher the worth of the girls to be married.But, amid all these irrefutable facts, one more fact arose: that their eldest daughter, Alexandra, suddenly and almost completely unexpectedly (as it seemed forever) passed the age of twenty-five. .Almost at the same time, Afanasy Ivanovich Totsky, a man of the upper class, with extraordinary wealth and close contacts with high-ranking officials, once again expressed his long-cherished wish to marry.He was about fifty-five years of age, with a refined temperament and refined tastes.He wanted a good relationship, and he was a connoisseur of beauty with very high taste.Since his friendship with General Yepanchin had been unusual since a certain time, and because of their mutual participation in certain financial undertakings, their friendship had become even more irresistible, so he told the matter to I met General Ye Panqin and wanted to hear his ideas and suggestions: If he plans to marry the general as a good husband, is it possible?So there was an obvious change in General Ye Panqin's peaceful and happy family life.

It has already been said that the youngest Aglaya was the undisputed beauty of the family.Even Totsky, an extremely selfish person, knew that he should not make plans for her, that Aglaya was not for him to enjoy.Maybe it was a kind of blind love, maybe it was a kind of overheated sisterhood that exaggerated things, but Aglaya's fate was arranged between them very sincerely, and this is not an ordinary fate. , but the highest ideal possible for an earthly paradise.Aglaya's future husband should be of supreme virtue and achievement, not to mention wealth.The two sisters even tacitly decided that, if necessary, they would sacrifice themselves for Aglaya: the dowry to be given to Aglaya was astonishingly large.Their parents were aware of the agreement of the two sisters, and when Totsky came to ask for advice, there was almost no doubt between them that one of the two sisters would not refuse to fulfill her with the icing on the cake. Besides, Afanasy Ivanovitch never cared about the size of the dowry.The general has great experience in life, so he gave Totsky's proposal a very high evaluation.Due to some special circumstances, Totsky was still extremely cautious in his actions for the time being, and only made general explorations. Since he himself was still like this, the parents could only reveal some wild and ambiguous speculations.The older sisters' reaction to the matter, vague and elusive as it was, was at least reassuring, and it was evident that Alexandra, the eldest, might not refuse.Although the girl was stubborn, she was kind-hearted, sensible, and very easy-going. She would even be happy to marry Totsky, and if she agreed, she would definitely do it.She doesn't like to show off, not only does she avoid trouble and danger of sudden changes, she may even make life interesting and happy.She was not very striking, but she was beautiful.Could Totsky have found a better wife?

Then again, although this matter is in progress, it is still in the tentative stage.Totsky and the general mutually agreed in good faith not to take any premature and irrevocable steps.Even the parents haven't been fully open about it with their daughters yet.At the same time, a dissonance began to appear. As the mother of the family, Mrs. General Yepanchin gradually became dissatisfied for some reason, and this is very important.Now a circumstance arises which gets in the way of everything, a delicate and troublesome matter by which it is very likely that the success of the project will be brought to naught.

This delicate and troublesome "thing" (as Totsky said) began a long time ago, about eighteen years ago.In a certain central Russian province, near one of the richest estates in Afanasy Ivanovich, there lived a very poor little landowner.The man had a reputation for failing a lot, and for failing absurdly—he was a retired officer, of a distinguished family, and in this at least he was a little better than Totsky.His name was Philip Alexandrovich Balashkov.He was in debt and mortgaged everything, but at last he managed, after almost a farmer's travail, to scrape together a small property.After he achieved something, he was very excited.Excited by hope, he set off for a few days in a small town.The purpose of his trip was to meet with one of his most important creditors and, if possible, to come to a thorough agreement with him on how to repay the debt.But on the third day after he arrived at the county seat, his village chief came riding from his small village.One of his cheeks was burned by the fire, and the sides of the beard were also scorched by the fire.The village chief reported to him: "The territory was on fire, just at noon yesterday." In addition, "the lady was also burned to death, but the children are safe." Unable to withstand the shock of this accident, he went mad, and died of a fever a month later.The burned estates, along with the peasants who had gone out to beg, were sold off to pay off their debts.Afanasy Ivanovich Totsky, out of compassion, took in Balashkov's two little girls, six and seven, to be raised and educated.They had been brought up ever since with the children of the steward Afanasy Ivanovich.The housekeeper is a retired official, leading a family with many children, and they are Germans.After a while there was only one of the two little girls left, named Nastia, and the youngest died of whooping cough.Totsky quickly forgot about the two little girls because he lived abroad.Five years later, Afanasy Ivanovich was passing by here one day, wanting to see his estate, and suddenly in his country house, in the house of the German, he found a very handsome man. The child, a lively, sweet, intelligent girl of twelve or thirteen years old, would certainly be very beautiful when she grew up. In this respect, Afanasy Ivanovitch could be said to have a unique eye for seeing everything.This time, although he only lived in the manor for a few days, he made proper arrangements. Since then, a big change has taken place in the little girl's upbringing and education: he hired a respectable, senior A governess of seventy years old, experienced in the training of young girls for higher education, a Swiss, very learned, who taught other subjects besides French.Nastya took up residence in the country house.From then on, the education of little Nastasya began with great fanfare.After four full years, the education was complete, the governess left, and a wife came to fetch Nastya away.She was a landowner and a neighbor of Mr. Totsky, but the estate was not here, but in another distant province.She was instructed by Afanasy Ivanovich and accepted his commission to take Nastya away.In this small manor, there is also a small wooden house that has just been built. This house is very elegant, and this small village is called "Happy Village" as if deliberately making fun of it.The landlady took Nastya directly to this quiet cottage, and besides, she herself was a childless widow who lived not far away, only a verst away, so she moved in with Nastya too. Scarlet lives with her.Nastya was accompanied by an elderly housekeeper and a young, experienced maid.In the room there are various musical instruments, a beautifully bound collection of books for young girls, oil paintings, prints, pencils, brushes, paints, and a cute puppy. After another two weeks, Afanasy Ivanovich Qi Bian came to visit... From then on, he seemed to fall in love with this remote grassland village, and he came every summer, and lived there for two months, or even three months, and it passed like this for a long time.For about four years, I lived a peaceful and happy life, which was both interesting and elegant.

It happened once that one day in early winter, about four months after Afanasy Ivanovitch's summer visit (he had only been in Happy Village for a fortnight), suddenly Rumor, or rather a rumor, had somehow reached Nastasya Filippovna's ears that Afanasy Ivanovitch was going to marry a great beauty in Petersburg, a A rich lady from a great family is his wife—in a word, he is climbing the dragon and the phoenix, and forging a happy marriage.It turned out later that the rumor was not correct in all its details: the wedding, etc., was only planned at the time, and it was still in doubt.But, at any rate, an extraordinary turn of events had taken place in Nastasya Filippovna's fortunes since then.She suddenly showed extraordinary determination, and revealed a character that was completely unexpected.Without thinking, she left the cottage in the country, suddenly appeared in Petersburg, and alone, went straight to Totsky.Totsky was surprised, but as soon as he opened his mouth he found that he had to completely change the composition, even the size of the voice range, the witty topics and logic that had been used so successfully in the past, etc., etc. - in short, everything Must change!The woman sitting in front of him was quite another woman, completely different from the woman he had known so far, who had just left in Happy Village in July.

He found that this new woman, first of all, knew and understood an extraordinary amount of things--so much that he was very surprised. Where did she learn this knowledge?Where did she get so many precise ideas? (From her girls' books?) Besides, she knew an unusual amount of law, and had a good knowledge of some of the things that were done in it, if not all of it; Second, her personality has completely changed in the past. In the past, her personality was shy and unpredictable like a middle school student. Sometimes she was innocent and lively and different, so she appeared very charming, and sometimes she was sad and thoughtful. , fussing, suspicious, crybaby and restless.

Not now: an extraordinary and unexpected beauty, laughing in his presence, addressing him with irony and sarcasm, and telling him straight to the point that, apart from deep contempt, she had never in her heart Never had any other affection for him, and the first shock was followed by disgusting contempt.The changed woman claimed that it didn't matter to her that he would marry whoever he wanted, and that she had come to block his marriage, and hated it, simply because she wanted to, and therefore she had to. Do it like this—"I came here only to laugh at you to my heart's content, because now it's finally my turn to laugh at you."

At least that's what she said verbally. As for what she thinks in her heart, she may not have said it all.But while the new Nastasya Filippovna was laughing and telling all this logically, Afanasy Ivanovitch was thinking about his own affairs, trying to organize himself as best he could That was a bit of a mess of thoughts.This pondering and thinking lasted for a long time.It took him almost a fortnight to think it over until he came to a decision: but after a fortnight he finally made up his mind.The point was that Afanasy Ivanovich was then in his fifties, and he was a very famous and respected man.His position in high society and all walks of life has long been established, and the foundation is very solid.He loved himself, his peace and comfort more than anything else in the world, as a very decent man should.What he had spent his life building up, and which was in such a beautiful form, could not allow the slightest damage or wavering.On the other hand, due to his experience and sophistication, Totsky quickly and very correctly realized that the woman he was dealing with was an extraordinary woman who not only threatened, but also spoke. It can be done, mainly because this woman can do everything, and she doesn't pay attention to anything in the world, so there is no way to seduce her.There is clearly something else here, suggesting some kind of mental and psychic turmoil--something like some Romantic rage, and God knows where and from where it came, and it's like some kind of Loss of proportion, insatiable contempt--in a word, a feeling that is so ridiculous in the eyes of high society and must not be allowed to arise!Any decent person who encounters such things is almost like being punished by God through and through.Needless to say, using Totsky's wealth and connections, it was perfectly possible to do small, completely innocuous, immoral things quickly to avoid unpleasantness.On the other hand, it is equally obvious that Nastasya Filippovna herself is absolutely incapable of doing anything harmful, and she would never sue, even if she went to court. Make a lot of noise, because it is always easy to restrain her and prevent her from talking and moving.But all this would work only if Nastasya Filippovna acted like a normal person in similar situations, and not too out of the ordinary.But here again Totsky's insight came in handy: he was good at seeing rightly, and Nastasya Filippovna herself understood perfectly well that it would be harmless for her to go to court. , but she seems to have something else in mind... Her shining eyes also showed this.Nastasya Filippovna valued nothing but herself (it would take extraordinary intelligence and insight to see at this moment that she no longer valued herself, to be able to to make him, a skeptic and a man of good society, really believe in the seriousness of the feeling), she might destroy herself, irreparably and unjustifiably, even by going to Siberia for hard labor, the purpose of which To humiliate the one she hated so much.Afanasy Ivanovich never concealed that he was a little timid, or rather he was very reserved.If he knew, for example, that he was going to be killed at his marriage, or that something of the kind that was utterly unseemly, ridiculous, and unpleasant in the eyes of high society was going to happen, he was afraid, of course, but he was afraid. It's not that he's going to be killed, or wounded and bleeding, or spat on in public, etc., but the fear of it taking such an unnatural and perverse form.You know, Nastasya Filippovna had threatened to do this, though she didn't say so, and he knew that she knew him so well and had studied him thoroughly that she knew how to beat him.But since the wedding, and so on, was indeed only in the planning stage, Afanasy Ivanovitch made a humble concession to Nastasya Filippovna.

Another circumstance prompted him to this decision: the fact that the new Nastasya Filippovna looked so different from the old one was beyond imagination.In the past, she was just a very beautiful girl, but now... Totsky couldn't forgive himself, he couldn't see her clearly after watching her for four years.It is true that there is a major relationship between the sudden turning point in the hearts of both parties. However, now that he thinks about it, even in the past, there are often such moments. Sometimes, when he looks into these eyes, he will suddenly have some strange thoughts : It seems that there is a deep and mysterious melancholy in these eyes.The expression revealed by this look seems to be playing a charade.During these two years he had often been amazed at the change in Nastasia Filippovna's face, which had grown paler and paler, and which, strangely enough, made her look even better. .Totsky was like all those gentlemen who spend their lives on the hunt, because this inanimate soul was easy for him to get.So at first he despised her very much, but lately he had begun to doubt his own opinion of it, anyway, last spring he had made up his mind to get Nastasia Faye as soon as possible, in style and style. Lipovna married, any gentleman who was employed in another province, but who was sensible and good-natured. (Oh, how terribly and how bitterly Nastasya Filippovna laughed at it now!) But now Afanasy Ivanovitch had a new idea which fascinated him.He even thought, might as well use this woman again.He made up his mind to let Nastasya Filippovna live first in Petersburg, and to give her all the luxuries and comforts possible.If you lose one, you can gain another: you can show off Nastasya Filippovna in a certain circle, show off, and satisfy his vanity.Afanasy Ivanovich took the reputation very seriously in this respect. Five years had passed since life in Petersburg, and it goes without saying that many things had become clear during that period.Afanasy Ivanovitch's situation was hardly consoling, and the worst thing was that once he was timid, he could never be calm afterwards.He was afraid—he didn't know what he was afraid of—of seeing Nastasya Filippovna.At one time, probably during the first two years, he suspected that Nastasya Filippovna wanted to marry him herself, but she was too vain to say so, and insisted on waiting for him to propose.It would be amazing if she had such extravagant hopes.Afanasy Ivanovitch frowned and fell into thought.But to his great astonishment (that's how people are!), and even a little displeasure, he was suddenly confronted with a fortuitous situation which convinced him that even if he proposed she would not accept it.For a long time he couldn't figure out the reason.He felt that only one explanation was possible, that the pride of a "violated and fanciful woman" had grown to such a frenzied degree that she would rather express her contempt by refusal than once and for all. Determine your own status, so as to achieve inexhaustible glory and wealth.Worst of all, Nastasya Filippovna had the upper hand.She was not tempted by money, even a large amount, and although she accepted the comfortable living conditions offered to her, she lived very frugally, and for five years had hardly any savings.Afanasy Ivanovitch had risked and used cunning in order to break his chains: he tried to seduce her quietly, with the help of his masters, and with the most ideal lures, but Incarnations of ideals—princes, hussars, embassy secretaries, poets, novelists, even socialists—could not touch Nastasya Filippovna's heart as if her heart had been turned to stone , feelings have withered forever and died forever.She lived a mostly solitary life, read and even studied, and she liked music.She didn't know many people, except the wives of poor and ridiculous little civil servants, she also knew two actresses, some old women, and she was very fond of the large family of a respectable teacher. The family also likes her very much and welcomes her.Every night, there are always five or six acquaintances coming to her house, but there are no more people.Totsky came often and never stopped, and recently General Epanchin made an acquaintance with Nastasya Filippovna with great difficulty.Meanwhile, there was a young junior civil servant who got to know her very easily and effortlessly.The man's name was Fedsenko, and he was a very rude and indecent buffoon, who liked to joke and drink.Among the people she knew was a young and strange man named Ptitsyn, a modest, serious, well-dressed man who, though born poor, was now a usurer.The last person I got to know her was that Gavrila Ardalionovich... As a result, Nastasya Filippovna gained a strange reputation: everyone knew that she was beautiful. , and that's all. Other than that, no one has anything to brag about, and no one can say anything to take advantage of.Such a reputation, her erudition, wit, and refined manners all made Afanasy Ivanovich decisively decide to carry out a plan.It was here that we began to tell our story, and it was then that General Yepanchin himself took an active and enthusiastic part in it. When Totsky asked him very politely whether he could marry one of his daughters, he immediately poured out his thoughts to him very noblely and frankly.He said frankly that he had made up his mind to do whatever it takes to get himself free, even if Nastasya Filippovna herself had announced to him that she would stop making trouble with him and that his His heart couldn't be calm either, he felt that it was useless to just speak nicely, what he needed was the most practical guarantee.After discussing it, they decided to act together.At first it was decided that it would be a good idea to try the gentlest means at first, that is, to try only to touch her "higher heartstrings."They went to see Nastasya Filippovna together, and Totsky began straight to the point with the embarrassment and embarrassment of his own situation, said that everything was his fault, and frankly said that his initial feelings for her He will never regret what he has done, because he is a womanizer with hard-won habits and can't control himself, but he wants to get married now, and the success of this very decent and well-matched marriage is entirely in her hands inside.In short, everything depended on her, and he placed his hope in her noble heart.Immediately afterwards, General Yepanchin began to speak in his father's capacity, and he spoke clearly, avoiding sentimentality, and he only mentioned that he fully recognized that she had the right to determine the fate of Afanasy Ivanovich; She noted that the fate of his daughter, and even the fate of the other two, now depended entirely on her decision, but he also pretended that he could not care much now, but resigned himself to fate.Totsky's attitude to Nastasya Filippovna's question "What on earth do you want her for?" He was terrified, and until now he could not be completely at peace, unless Nastasya Filippovna found someone to marry herself.Speaking of this, he immediately added that if the request he made was not more or less reasonable and well-founded, then of course it would be absurd for him to say so.He saw very clearly, and heard with certainty, that there was a young man of good birth and high family, that Gavrila Ardalionovitch whom she had known and had made her guest. Ivolkin, whom he had fallen in love with so passionately, had, of course, willingly given half his life just for the hope of gaining her favor.Gavrila Ardalionovitch had told Afanasy Ivanovitch himself, and had told him long ago, that he had done it out of their friendship, and also out of it. Ivan Fyodorovitch, who had shown great favor to the young man, knew about it, because he was a pure young man.Finally, if he, Afanasy Ivanovitch, was not mistaken, Nastasya Filippovna herself must have known the young man's love for her, and he even felt that She was very tolerant of this kind of love for him.Of course, when it comes to this matter, he is more difficult than anyone else.But if Nastasya Filippovna was willing to admit that in him Totsky there was always something for her good besides selfishness and consideration of his personal future, she would He will understand that he has long felt strange and even sad when he sees her alone in the vacant room: the reason why she refuses to marry is because her future is uncertain, she is depressed, and she does not believe that life can be changed from now on.In fact, life can be resurrected perfectly in love and family, so that her life will have a new purpose.If she remained alone in her vacant room, it would have ruined her perhaps brilliant talent, and she would have ended up in a lonely and self-admired state, in a word, which only seemed a little romantic, and was not Nastasia Filippo. Funa's sound mind and noble heart should have.At last, he repeated, he had something to say, but it was harder to say than anyone else, and that was, if he offered a huge sum of seventy-five thousand rubles as a token of his sincere desire to secure her future life If so, he hoped that Nastasya Filippovna would not treat him with contempt.He added another sentence as an explanation, the money, anyway, he had designated it to her in the will, in a word, this is not any kind of remuneration or compensation at all... Finally, he said, why can't it be allowed to exist, can't forgive him There is also such a desire in line with human nature in him, let him do something to relieve his uneasiness in conscience, etc., etc., anyway, they are all the usual things to say on this topic under similar circumstances.Afanasy Ivanovich went on in a long and wondrous babble, and added the interesting fact that the number of seventy-five thousand was mentioned for the first time even by those present. Ivan Fyodorovitch didn't know about it either, at any rate, no one knew. Nastasya Filippovna's answer surprised the two friends. She couldn't see even a little bit of the past ridicule, the hostility and hatred, the laughing look.Totsky still shudders when he thinks of this kind of laughter.On the contrary, she seemed glad to see at last a chance to have a frank and friendly talk with someone.She admitted that she herself wanted to listen to other people's friendly advice a long time ago, but she was embarrassed to speak out because of her pride, but now, the ice has been broken, and there is nothing better than this.She first smiled sadly and then laughed heartily, and she admitted that there would never be any more of the stormy crying of the past, and that she had partly changed her view of things, although Her heart has not changed, but after all, she has to be content with many things because it is a fait accompli.What has been done in the past, let it be done, let the past be the past.She even wondered that Afanasy Ivanovitch was still as frightened as ever.Having said this, she turned again to Ivan Fyodorovitch and announced to him with deep respect that she had heard about his three daughters, and had heard a great deal about them, She was used to respecting them deeply and sincerely.It gave happiness and pride to think that she could do something to benefit them.It is true that her heart is now very heavy and dull.Very bored, Afanasy Ivanovitch guessed her fantasy, she hoped that if she could not love each other, it would renew herself in the family that was to be formed, and thus realize the new purpose of life.But about Gavrila Ardalionovitch and so on, she had very little to say.诚然，他似乎在爱她，她觉得自己也可能会爱他的，假如她能相信他对她的爱恋是坚定不移的话，但是，即使他是真心诚意的，毕竟也太年轻了点，所以要决定终身还是难的。然而，她最喜欢的还是，他工作，劳动，独自一人维持全家的生计。她听说，他是一个有毅力而且很有自尊心的人，他想求得一官半职，想出人头地。她也听说，加夫里拉·阿尔达利翁诺维奇的母亲尼娜·亚历山德罗芙娜·伊沃尔金娜，是一位非常好的、十分可敬的女人；他的妹妹瓦尔瓦拉·阿尔达利翁诺芙娜，也是一位很好、很刚毅的姑娘，她从普季岑那儿听说过许多关于她的事。她听说，他们全家都能面对自己的不幸而毫不气馁；她很希望能够同她们认识认识，但是，她们是否欢迎她成为他们家的一员，恐怕还是问题。总之，她并没有说任何反对有可能缔结这段姻缘的话，但是这事毕竟还要好好想想，她希望不要催她。至于七万五千卢布云云——阿法纳西·伊万诺维奇大可不必难于启齿。她是懂得金钱的价值的，当然会收下。她感谢阿法纳西·伊万诺维奇的美意，感谢他非但没有把这事告诉加夫里拉·阿尔达利翁诺维奇，甚至也没有把这事告诉将军，但是话又说回来，为什么不让加夫里拉·阿尔达利翁诺维奇预先知道这事呢？她带着这笔钱嫁到他们家去，是没有什么可以羞耻的。在任何情况下，她都无意向任何人请求任何饶恕，她希望大家都知道这点。除非她确信，无论他或他们家决不至于对她有半点成见，否则，她决不嫁给加夫里拉·阿尔达利翁诺维奇。她丝毫不认为自己有任何过错，最好让加夫里拉·阿尔达利翁诺维奇知道她这五年所以要生活在彼得堡的道理，她跟阿法纳西·伊万诺维奇究竟是什么关系，是否积蓄了很多财产。最后，她现在所以接受这笔钱，完全不是把它看作出卖处女贞操（她对此毫无过错）的报酬，而只是把它看作对于被摧残的命运的补偿。 最后，她在陈述这一切的时候，激昂慷慨，义愤填膺（然而，这是十分自然的），以致使叶潘钦将军感到十分满意，认为这事已经了结，但是一度被吓破了胆的托茨基，直到现在还不敢完全信以为真，他深怕有什么毒蛇隐蔽在花丛之中。然而，谈判总算开始了，两个朋友所耍的全部手腕的立足点，正在于纳斯塔西娅·菲利波芙娜有可能对加尼亚产生一种爱恋，这点终于开始越来越明朗，越来越言之有据了，以致连托茨基有时都开始相信，成功在望。稍后，纳斯塔西娅·菲利波芙娜跟加尼亚进行了一次倾心的交谈：她说的话很少，仿佛她的贞洁会因此受到损害似的。然而，她假定他是爱她的，也允许他爱她，但是她坚决声明，她不愿意受任何束缚；她声明，直到正式举行婚礼（如果当真会举行婚礼的话）之前，她都要保留说出“不”字的权利，哪怕在举行婚礼前的最后一小时亦然。她也给予加尼亚完全相同的权利。不久，加尼亚通过一个送上门来的机会，确切地打听到，纳斯塔西娅·菲利波芙娜已经十分详细地知道他全家对这件婚事以及对纳斯塔西娅·菲利波芙娜本人的不友好态度（这是在家庭争吵中暴露出来的）。她本人并没有同他谈起这事，虽然他每天都等待着。由这次说合和谈判暴露出来的许多故事和情况，本来要说的话还很多，然而我们的题外话也说得太多了，再说，有些情况还仅属传闻，并不确定。比如，托茨基似乎不知从哪里听说，纳斯塔西娅·菲利波芙娜跟叶潘钦家的几位千金发生了某种令人难以捉摸的、对局外人严守秘密的往来——这谣言实在难以置信。但是，另一个谣言却不由得他不信，并且害怕得做起了噩梦，他听说，并且深信不疑：纳斯塔西娅·菲利波芙娜似乎已经非常清楚，加尼亚是为了钱才同她结婚的，加尼亚的心很黑、很贪；这人喜怒无常而又嫉妒成性，自尊心强得不着边际而又完全没有道理。加尼亚过去确实很热烈地想要征服纳斯塔西娅·菲利波芙娜的心，但是当两朋友拿定主意想利用双方都已萌发的这种热情，并想用把纳斯塔西娅·菲利波芙娜出卖给他做合法妻子的办法来收买他的时候，他就开始恨她了，好像恨自己做了场噩梦似的。他心里，爱与恨奇怪地交织在一起，虽然他经过一番痛苦的犹疑不定之后，最后表示同意娶这“贱货”为妻，但是他心里发誓，将来一定要狠狠地报复她，似乎他本人也曾这么说过，以后要“给她点颜色瞧瞧”。凡此种种，纳斯塔西娅·菲利波芙娜似乎都很清楚，并且私下里在做某种准备。托茨基心里发怵到这种地步，甚至都不敢把自己心里的种种不安告诉叶潘钦，但是，他虽然是个弱者，也常会有某些片刻忽然重新振作起来，霎时间精神焕发。比如，纳斯塔西娅·菲利波芙娜终于答应两朋友，在她生日那天晚上，她将作出最后决定，听到这席话后，托茨基便眉飞色舞，精神大振。但是，有关最可尊敬的伊万·费奥多罗维奇本人的那桩最奇怪、也最难以置信的谣言，说来可叹！居然变得越来越凿凿有据了。 乍一看，这里的一切似乎纯粹是胡说八道。简直令人难以置信，伊万·费奥多罗维奇年高德劭，这么一大把年纪，而且为人绝顶聪明，世事洞明，人情练达，等等，等筹，似乎他本人竟受到了纳斯塔西娅·菲利波芙娜的诱惑——但是这也不过是似乎而已，而且还似乎达到了这样一种程度，这种逢场作戏几乎与情爱相类似。在这种情况下他能指望什么，是很难想象的。也许，他指望加尼亚本人能够从中玉成他，也未可知。起码托茨基有这样的怀疑，怀疑在将军与加尼亚之间存在着一种相互心照不宣的、近乎无言的协议。然而，众所周知，一个色迷心窍的人，特别是这个人上了年纪，会完全瞎了眼，甚至妄想在根本没有希望的地方去寻找希望；而且，即使他过去绝顶聪明，也会丧失理智，像个不懂事的孩子似的随便乱来。据说，将军还准备了一份用自己的名义送给纳斯塔西娅·菲利波芙娜的生日礼物——一串价值昂贵、令人咋舌的珍珠，他很关心这件礼物，虽然他明知道纳斯塔西娅·菲利波芙娜是个不贪财的女人。在纳斯塔西娅·菲利波芙娜生日的前一天，他就跟热锅上的蚂蚁似的，虽然他巧妙地极力掩饰自己。叶潘钦将军夫人听到的正是这串珍珠的事。诚然，叶利扎韦塔·普罗科菲耶芙娜早就感到丈夫作风轻浮，甚至对此也部分地习惯了；但是这件事却不能轻易放过：关于这串珍珠的谣言，使她十分关注。将军预先就探听到了这事，因此头天晚上就赔了不少小心，他预感到这事颇费唇舌，因此很害怕。在我们开始讲这个故事的那天上午，他之所以非常不愿意过去与家人共进早餐，其道理也就在此。还在公爵到来之前，他就决定推托有事，避免露面。将军的所谓避免，有时干脆就意味着逃跑。他希望，哪怕就这一天，主要是今天晚上，能平平安安地过去，不要惹出什么不愉快的事来。冷不防，偏巧这时候，来了个公爵。“倒像是上帝打发他来似的！”将军去见他夫人的时候，私下里寻思。