Stepan Trofimovitch resolutely persisted in ignoring his insults, but what his son told him made a more and more overwhelming impression upon him.
"And she, she herself sent me this message through you ?" he asked, turning pale.
"Well, you see, she means to fix a time and place for a mutual explanation, the relics of your sentimentalising.

You've been coquetting with her for twenty years and have trained her to the most ridiculous habits.

But don't trouble yourself, it's quite different now.

She keeps saying herself that she's only beginning now to 'have her eyes opened.' I told her in so many words that all this friendship of yours is nothing but a mutual pouring forth of sloppiness.

She told me lots, my boy.