"
"All right, all right, me soul, go on!"
"Futhermore, as I thought, so did I act. I took her to-day from
Anna Markovna's and brought her for the present to me. And later--
whatever God may grant. I'll teach her in the beginning to read,
and write; then open up for her a little cook-shop, or a grocery
store, let's say. I think that the comrades won't refuse to help
me. The human heart, prince, my brother--every heart--is in need
of cordiality, of warmth. And lo and behold! in a year, in two, I
will return to society a good, industrious, worthy member, with a
virgin soul, open to all sorts of great possibilities... For she
has given only her body, while her soul is pure and innocent."
"Tse, tse, tse," the prince smacked his tongue.
"What does this mean, you Tifflissian he-mule?"
"And will you buy her a sewing machine?"
"Why a sewing machine, in particular? I don't understand."
"It's always that way in the novels, me soul. Just as soon as the
hero has saved the poor, but lost, creature, he at once sets up a
sewing machine for her."
"Stop talking nonsense," Lichonin waved him away angrily with his
hand.
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