,BOOK #a#a1 ,*APT] #g 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,HEL5E UND]/OOD ?AT ! QUE/ION WAS V]Y SIMPLE & EASY FROM ! 
 ECCLESIA/ICAL PO9T ( VIEW1 & ?AT H] DIRECTORS W]E MAK+ 
 DIFFICULTIES ONLY BECAUSE !Y W]E APPREH5SIVE AS TO H[ ! MATT] 
 W\LD BE REG>D$ BY ! SECUL> AU?ORITIES4 

,SO %E DECID$ ?AT IT WAS NECESS>Y TO PREP>E ! OP9ION ( SOCIETY4 
 ,%E PROVOK$ ! JEAL\SY ( ! ELD]LY MAGNATE & TOLD HIM :AT %E HAD 
 TOLD H] O!R SUITOR2 ?AT IS1 %E PUT ! MATT] SO ?AT ! ONLY WAY 
 = HIM TO OBTA9 A RI<T OV] H] WAS TO M>RY H]4 ,! ELD]LY MAGNATE 
 WAS AT FIR/ AS MU* TAK5 ABACK BY ?IS SUGGE/ION ( M>RIAGE ) A 
 WOMAN :OSE HUSB& WAS ALIVE1 AS ! Y\NG] MAN HAD BE51 BUT ,HEL5E'S 
 IMP]TURBABLE CONVICTION ?AT IT WAS AS SIMPLE & NATURAL AS M>RY+ A 
 MAID5 HAD ITS EFFECT ON HIM TOO4 ,HAD ,HEL5E H]SELF %[N ! LEA/ SIGN 
 ( HESITATION1 %AME1 OR SECRECY1 H] CAUSE W\LD C]TA9LY HAVE BE5 
 LO/2 BUT NOT ONLY DID %E %[ NO SIGNS ( SECRECY OR %AME1 ON ! 
 CONTR>Y1 ) GOOD-NATUR$ NAIVETE %E TOLD H] 9TIMATE FRI5DS 7& 
 !SE W]E ALL ,PET]SBURG7 ?AT BO? ! PR9CE & ! MAGNATE HAD 
 PROPOS$ TO H] & ?AT %E LOV$ BO? & WAS AFRAID ( GRIEV+ EI!R4 

,A RUMOR IMM$IATELY SPREAD 9 ,PET]SBURG1 NOT ?AT ,HEL5E WANT$ TO BE 
 DIVORC$ FROM H] HUSB& 7HAD SU* A REPORT SPREAD MANY W\LD HAVE 
 OPPOS$ SO ILLEGAL AN 9T5TION7 BUT SIMPLY ?AT ! UN=TUNATE & 
 9T]E/+ ,HEL5E WAS 9 D\BT :I* ( ! TWO M5 %E %\LD M>RY4 ,! 
 QUE/ION WAS NO LONG] :E!R ?IS WAS POSSIBLE1 BUT ONLY :I* WAS ! 
 BETT] MAT* & H[ ! MATT] W\LD BE REG>D$ AT C\RT4 ,!RE W]E1 IT 
 IS TRUE1 SOME RIGID 9DIVIDUALS UNABLE TO RISE TO ! HEI<T ( SU* A 
 QUE/ION1 :O SAW 9 ! PROJECT A DESECRATION ( ! SACRAM5T ( 
 M>RIAGE1 BUT !RE W]E NOT MANY SU* & !Y REMA9$ SIL5T1 :ILE ! 
 MAJORITY W]E 9T]E/$ 9 ,HEL5E'S GOOD =TUNE & 9 ! QUE/ION 
 :I* MAT* W\LD BE ! MORE ADVANTAGE\S4 ,:E!R IT WAS RI<T OR WRONG 
 TO REM>RY :ILE ONE HAD A HUSB& LIV+ !Y DID NOT DISCUSS1 = ?AT 
 QUE/ION HAD EVID5TLY BE5 SETTL$ BY PEOPLE 0WIS] ?AN Y\ OR ME10 AS 
 !Y SAID1 & TO D\BT ! CORRECTNESS ( ?AT DECISION W\LD BE TO RISK 
 EXPOS+ ONE'S /UPIDITY & 9CAPACITY TO LIVE 9 SOCIETY4 

,ONLY ,M>YA ,DMITRIEVNA ,AKHROSIMOVA1 :O HAD COME TO ,PET]SBURG ?AT SUMM] 
 TO SEE ONE ( H] SONS1 ALL[$ H]SELF PLA9LY TO EXPRESS AN OP9ION 
 CONTR>Y TO ! G5]AL ONE4 ,MEET+ ,HEL5E AT A BALL %E /OPP$ H] 9 
 ! MIDDLE ( ! ROOM &1 AMID G5]AL SIL5CE1 SAID 9 H] GRUFF VOICE3 
 0,SO WIVES ( LIV+ M5 HAVE />T$ M>RY+ AGA96 ,P]HAPS Y\ ?9K Y\ 
 HAVE 9V5T$ A NOVELTY8 ,Y\ HAVE BE5 =E/ALL$1 MY DE>6 ,IT WAS 
 ?\<T ( LONG AGO4 ,IT IS DONE 9 ALL ! BRO!LS10 & ) !SE WORDS 
 ,M>YA ,DMITRIEVNA1 TURN+ UP H] WIDE SLEEVES ) H] USUAL ?REAT5+ 
 GE/URE & GLANC+ /]NLY R\ND1 MOV$ ACROSS ! ROOM4 

,?\< PEOPLE W]E AFRAID ( ,M>YA ,DMITRIEVNA %E WAS REG>D$ 9 
 ,PET]SBURG AS A BUFFOON1 & SO ( :AT %E HAD SAID !Y ONLY NOTIC$1 
 & REPEAT$ 9 A :ISP]1 ! ONE CO>SE WORD %E HAD US$1 SUPPOS+ ! 
 :OLE /+ ( H] REM>K TO LIE 9 ?AT WORD4 

,PR9CE ,VASILI1 :O ( LATE V]Y (T5 =GOT :AT HE HAD SAID & REPEAT$ 
 ONE & ! SAME ?+ A HUNDR$ TIMES1 REM>K$ TO HIS DAU<T] :5EV] 
 HE *ANC$ TO SEE H]3 

0,HEL5E1 ,I HAVE A WORD TO SAY TO Y\10 & HE W\LD LEAD H] ASIDE1 
 DRAW+ H] H& D[NW>D4 0,I HAVE HE>D ( C]TA9 PROJECTS CONC]N+444 
 Y\ KN[4 ,WELL MY DE> *ILD1 Y\ KN[ H[ Y\R FA!R'S HE>T REJOICES TO 
 KN[ ?AT Y\444 ,Y\ HAVE SUFF]$ SO MU*4444 ,BUT1 MY DE> *ILD1 CONSULT 
 ONLY Y\R [N HE>T4 ,?AT IS ALL ,I HAVE TO SAY10 & CONCEAL+ HIS 
 UNV>Y+ EMOTION HE W\LD PRESS HIS *EEK AGA9/ HIS DAU<T]'S & MOVE 
 AWAY4 

,BILIB91 :O HAD NOT LO/ HIS REPUTATION ( AN EXCE$+LY CLEV] MAN1 & 
 :O WAS ONE ( ! DIS9T]E/$ FRI5DS SO BRILLIANT A WOMAN AS ,HEL5E 
 ALWAYS HAS--M5 FRI5DS :O CAN NEV] *ANGE 9TO LOV]S--ONCE 
 GAVE H] HIS VIEW ( ! MATT] AT A SMALL & 9TIMATE GA!R+4 

0,LI/51 ,BILIB910 SAID ,HEL5E 7%E ALWAYS CALL$ FRI5DS ( ?AT SORT BY 
 !IR SURNAMES71 & %E T\*$ HIS COAT SLEEVE ) H] :ITE1 B]+$ 
 F+]S4 0,TELL ME1 AS Y\ W\LD A SI/]1 :AT ,I \<T TO DO4 ,:I* ( ! 
 TWO80 

,BILIB9 WR9KL$ UP ! SK9 OV] HIS EYEBR[S & POND]$1 ) A SMILE 
 ON HIS LIPS4 

0,Y\ >E NOT TAK+ ME UNAW>ES1 Y\ KN[10 SAID HE4 0,AS A TRUE FRI5D1 ,I 
 HAVE ?\<T & ?\<T AGA9 AB\T Y\R AFFAIR4 ,Y\ SEE1 IF Y\ M>RY 
 ! PR9CE0--HE MEANT ! Y\NG] MAN--& HE CROOK$ ONE 
 F+]1 0Y\ =EV] LOSE ! *ANCE ( M>RY+ ! O!R1 & Y\ WILL 
 DISPLEASE ! C\RT BESIDES4 7,Y\ KN[ !RE IS SOME K9D ( CONNECTION47 
 ,BUT IF Y\ M>RY ! OLD C\NT Y\ WILL MAKE HIS LA/ DAYS HAPPY1 & AS 
 WID[ ( ! ,GR&444 ! PR9CE W\LD NO LONG] BE MAK+ A MESALLIANCE 
 BY M>RY+ Y\10 & ,BILIB9 SMOO!D \T HIS =EHEAD4 

0,?AT'S A TRUE FRI5D60 SAID ,HEL5E BEAM+1 & AGA9 T\*+ ,BILIB9'S 
 SLEEVE4 0,BUT ,I LOVE !M1 Y\ KN[1 & DON'T WANT TO DI/RESS EI!R ( 
 !M4 ,I W\LD GIVE MY LIFE = ! HAPP9ESS ( !M BO?40 

,BILIB9 %RUGG$ HIS %\LD]S1 AS MU* AS TO SAY ?AT NOT EV5 HE C\LD 
 HELP 9 ?AT DIFFICULTY4 

0,UNE MAITRESSE-FEMME6 "9 ,?AT'S :AT IS CALL$ PUTT+ ?+S SQU>ELY4 ,%E 
 W\LD LIKE TO BE M>RI$ TO ALL ?REE AT ! SAME TIME10 ?\<T HE4 

 "9 ,A MA/]LY WOMAN4 

  

0,BUT TELL ME1 H[ WILL Y\R HUSB& LOOK AT ! MATT]80 ,BILIB9 ASK$1 
 HIS REPUTATION BE+ SO WELL E/ABLI%$ ?AT HE DID NOT FE> TO ASK SO 
 NAIVE A QUE/ION4 0,WILL HE AGREE80 

0,OH1 HE LOVES ME SO60 SAID ,HEL5E1 :O = SOME REASON IMAG9$ ?AT 
 ,PI]RE TOO LOV$ H]4 0,HE WILL DO ANY?+ = ME40 

,BILIB9 PUCK]$ HIS SK9 9 PREP>ATION = SOME?+ WITTY4 

0,EV5 DIVORCE Y\80 SAID HE4 

,HEL5E LAU<$4 

,AMONG ?OSE :O V5TUR$ TO D\BT ! JU/IFIABILITY ( ! PROPOS$ 
 M>RIAGE WAS ,HEL5E'S MO!R1 ,PR9CESS ,KURAG9A4 ,%E WAS CONT9UALLY 
 TORM5T$ BY JEAL\SY ( H] DAU<T]1 & N[ ?AT JEAL\SY CONC]N$ A 
 SUBJECT NE> TO H] [N HE>T1 %E C\LD NOT RECONCILE H]SELF TO ! 
 IDEA4 ,%E CONSULT$ A ,RUSSIAN PRIE/ AS TO ! POSSIBILITY ( DIVORCE & 
 REM>RIAGE DUR+ A HUSB&'S LIFETIME1 & ! PRIE/ TOLD H] ?AT IT 
 WAS IMPOSSIBLE1 & TO H] DELI<T %[$ H] A TEXT 9 ! ,GOSPEL :I* 
 7AS IT SEEM$ TO HIM7 PLA9LY =BIDS REM>RIAGE :ILE ! HUSB& IS 
 ALIVE4 

,>M$ ) !SE >GUM5TS1 :I* APPE>$ TO H] UNANSW]ABLE1 %E DROVE 
 TO H] DAU<T]'S E>LY ONE MORN+ SO AS TO F9D H] ALONE4 

,HAV+ LI/5$ TO H] MO!R'S OBJECTIONS1 ,HEL5E SMIL$ BL&LY & 
 IRONICALLY4 

0,BUT IT SAYS PLA9LY3 ',:OSOEV] %ALL M>RY H] ?AT IS DIVORC$444'0 
 SAID ! OLD PR9CESS4 

0,AH1 ,MAMAN1 NE DITES PAS DE BETISES4 ,V\S NE COMPR5EZ RI54 ,DANS MA 
 POSITION J'AI DES DEVOIRS10 "9 SAID ,HEL5E *ANG+ FROM ,RUSSIAN1 9 :I* 
 LANGUAGE %E ALWAYS FELT ?AT H] CASE DID NOT S\ND QUITE CLE>1 9TO 
 ,FR5* :I* SUIT$ IT BETT]4 

 "9 0,OH1 ,MAMA1 DON'T TALK NONS5SE6 ,Y\ DON'T UND]/& 
 ANY?+4 ,9 MY POSITION ,I HAVE OBLIGATIONS40 
  
  

0,BUT1 MY DE>44440 

0,OH1 ,MAMA1 H[ IS IT Y\ DON'T UND]/& ?AT ! ,HOLY ,FA!R1 :O HAS 
 ! RI<T TO GRANT DISP5SATIONS4440 

,JU/ !N ! LADY COMPANION :O LIV$ ) ,HEL5E CAME 9 TO ANN\NCE 
 ?AT ,HIS ,HI<NESS WAS 9 ! BALLROOM & WI%$ TO SEE H]4 

0,NON1 DITES-LUI QUE JE NE VEUX PAS LE VOIR1 QUE JE SUIS FURIEUSE CONTRE 
 LUI1 P>CE QU'IL M'A MANQUE P>OLE40 "9 

 "9 0,NO1 TELL HIM ,I DON'T WI% TO SEE HIM1 ,I AM FURI\S ) 
 HIM = NOT KEEP+ HIS WORD TO ME40 
  
  

0,COMTESSE1 A T\T PE*E MIS]ICORDE10 "9 SAID A FAIR-HAIR$ Y\NG 
 MAN ) A LONG FACE & NOSE1 AS HE 5T]$ ! ROOM4 

 "9 0,C\NTESS1 !RE IS M]CY = EV]Y S940 
  
  

,! OLD PR9CESS ROSE RESPECTFULLY & CURTSI$4 ,! Y\NG MAN :O HAD 
 5T]$ TOOK NO NOTICE ( H]4 ,! PR9CESS NODD$ TO H] DAU<T] & 
 SIDL$ \T ( ! ROOM4 

0,YES1 %E IS RI<T10 ?\<T ! OLD PR9CESS1 ALL H] CONVICTIONS 
 DISSIPAT$ BY ! APPE>ANCE ( ,HIS ,HI<NESS4 0,%E IS RI<T1 BUT H[ IS IT 
 ?AT WE 9 \R IRRECOV]ABLE Y\? DID NOT KN[ IT8 ,YET IT IS SO SIMPLE10 
 %E ?\<T AS %E GOT 9TO H] C>RIAGE4 

,BY ! BEG9N+ ( ,AUGU/ ,HEL5E'S AFFAIRS W]E CLE>LY DEF9$ & %E 
 WROTE A LETT] TO H] HUSB&--:O1 AS %E IMAG9$1 LOV$ H] V]Y 
 MU*--9=M+ HIM ( H] 9T5TION TO M>RY ,N4,N4 & ( H] HAV+ 
 EMBRAC$ ! ONE TRUE FAI?1 & ASK+ HIM TO C>RY \T ALL ! 
 =MALITIES NECESS>Y = A DIVORCE1 :I* W\LD BE EXPLA9$ TO HIM BY 
 ! BE>] ( ! LETT]4 

,& SO ,I PRAY ,GOD TO HAVE Y\1 MY FRI5D1 9 ,HIS HOLY & P[]FUL KEEP+--,Y\R 
 FRI5D ,HEL5E4 

,?IS LETT] WAS BR\<T TO ,PI]RE'S H\SE :5 HE WAS ON ! FIELD ( 
 ,BOROD9O4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahfh 3 ,BOOK #a#a1 ,*APT] #g -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,FEBRU>Y #a#a1 #bag 3 ,BOOK #a#a1 ,*APT] #g -- ,ADD$4 

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