“What art thou talking about?” inquired Aratoff.

“See here,” pursued Kupfer, becoming more and more animated; “there exists here a certain society of amateurs and artists, which from time to time organises readings, concerts, even theatrical representations, for philanthropic objects....”

“And the Princess takes part?” interrupted Aratoff.

“The Princess always takes part in good works—­but that is of no consequence.  We have got up a literary and musical morning ... and at that performance thou mayest hear a young girl ... a remarkable young girl!—­We do not quite know, as yet, whether she will turn out a Rachel or a Viardot ... for she sings splendidly, and declaims and acts....  She has talent of the first class, my dear fellow!  I am not exaggerating.—­So here now ... wilt not thou take a ticket?—­Five rubles if thou wishest the first row.”

“And where did this wonderful young girl come from?” asked Aratoff.

Kupfer grinned.—­“That I cannot say....  Of late she has found an asylum with the Princess.  The Princess, as thou knowest, is a patron of all such people....  And it is probable that thou sawest her that evening.”

Aratoff started inwardly, faintly ... but made no answer.

“She has even acted somewhere in country districts,” went on Kupfer, “and, on the whole, she was created for the theatre.  Thou shalt see for thyself!”

“Is her name Clara?” asked Aratoff.

“Yes, Clara....”

“Clara!” interrupted Aratoff again.—­“It cannot be!”

“Why not?—­Clara it is, ...  Clara Militch; that is not her real name ... but that is what she is called.  She is to sing a romance by Glinka ... and one by Tchaikovsky, and then she will recite the letter from ’Evgeny Onyegin’[55]—­Come now!  Wilt thou take a ticket?”

“But when is it to be?”

“To-morrow ... to-morrow, at half-past one, in a private hall, on Ostozhyonka Street....  I will come for thee.  A ticket at five rubles?...  Here it is....  No, this is a three-ruble ticket.—­Here it is.—­And here is the affiche.[56]—­I am one of the managers.”

Aratoff reflected.  Platonida Ivanovna entered the room at that moment and, glancing at his face, was suddenly seized with agitation.—­“Yasha,” she exclaimed, “what ails thee?  Why art thou so excited?  Feodor Feodorovitch, what hast thou been saying to him?”

But Aratoff did not give his friend a chance to answer his aunt’s question, and hastily seizing the ticket which was held out to him, he ordered Platonida Ivanovna to give Kupfer five rubles on the instant.

She was amazed, and began to blink her eyes....  Nevertheless, she handed Kupfer the money in silence.  Yashenka had shouted at her in a very severe manner.

“She’s a marvel of marvels, I tell thee!” cried Kupfer, darting toward the door.—­“Expect me to-morrow!”

“Has she black eyes?” called Aratoff after him.