But the question of whether my wife can or cannot see anyone she must decide herself.

" He said this from habit, lifting his brows with dignity, and reflected immediately that whatever his words might be, there could be no dignity in his position.

And he saw this by the suppressed, malicious, and ironical smile with which Betsy glanced at him after this phrase.

Alexey Alexandrovitch took leave of Betsy in the drawing room, and went to his wife.