“Alexandre, I know you don’t like me, but . . . listen to me; listen, I beg you. . . .  But, my dear, how can this have happened?  Why, it’s awful, awful!  For goodness’ sake, beg them, defend yourself, entreat them.”

Sasha looked at her quivering shoulders, at the big tears that were rolling down her cheeks, heard behind his back the hollow, nervous voices of worried and exhausted people, and shrugged his shoulders.  He had not in the least expected that his aristocratic relations would raise such a tempest over a paltry fifteen hundred roubles!  He could not understand her tears nor the quiver of their voices.

An hour later he heard that the Colonel was getting the best of it; the uncles were finally inclining to let the case go for trial.

“The matter’s settled,” said the Colonel, sighing.  “Enough.”

After this decision all the uncles, even the emphatic Colonel, became noticeably depressed.  A silence followed.

“Merciful Heavens!” sighed Ivan Markovitch.  “My poor sister!”

And he began saying in a subdued voice that most likely his sister, Sasha’s mother, was present unseen in the study at that moment.  He felt in his soul how the unhappy, saintly woman was weeping, grieving, and begging for her boy.  For the sake of her peace beyond the grave, they ought to spare Sasha.

The sound of a muffled sob was heard.  Ivan Markovitch was weeping and muttering something which it was impossible to catch through the door.  The Colonel got up and paced from corner to corner.  The long conversation began over again.

But then the clock in the drawing-room struck two.  The family council was over.  To avoid seeing the person who had moved him to such wrath, the Colonel went from the study, not into the hall, but into the vestibule. . . .  Ivan Markovitch came out into the hall. . . .  He was agitated and rubbing his hands joyfully.  His tear-stained eyes looked good-humoured and his mouth was twisted into a smile.

“Capital,” he said to Sasha.  “Thank God!  You can go home, my dear, and sleep tranquilly.  We have decided to pay the sum, but on condition that you repent and come with me tomorrow into the country and set to work.”

A minute later Ivan Markovitch and Sasha in their great-coats and caps were going down the stairs.  The uncle was muttering something edifying.  Sasha did not listen, but felt as though some uneasy weight were gradually slipping off his shoulders.  They had forgiven him; he was free!  A gust of joy sprang up within him and sent a sweet chill to his heart.  He longed to breathe, to move swiftly, to live!  Glancing at the street lamps and the black sky, he remembered that Von Burst was celebrating his name-day that evening at the “Bear,” and again a rush of joy flooded his soul. . . .

“I am going!” he decided.

But then he remembered he had not a farthing, that the companions he was going to would despise him at once for his empty pockets.  He must get hold of some money, come what may!