There was nothing so very extraordinary in it, after all, he thought.

Foreign women, especially Russians, are accustomed to omit any title or prefix, and to call their intimate friends by their simple names, and it means nothing.

But her voice was so wonderful.

He never knew his name sounded so sweet before--the consonants and vowels, like the swing and fall of a deep silver bell in perfect cadence.

"A little longer," thought Claudius, "and it shall be hers as well as mine." He took a book from the table absently, and had opened it when he suddenly recollected the Duke, put it down and left the room.
Soon a noiseless individual in a white waistcoat and a dress-coat put his head in at the door, advanced, straightened the chairs, closed the book the Doctor had opened, put the gas out and went away, shutting the door for the night, and leaving the room to its recollections.