" But, perhaps, I promised what I had no right to promise.

" "So you go back from your promise?" "I have never refused to do all that is possible, but I want time to consider how much of what I promised is possible.

" "No, Alexey Alexandrovitch!" cried Oblonsky, jumping up, "I won't believe that! She's unhappy as only an unhappy woman can be, and you cannot refuse in such..." "As much of what I promised as is possible.

_Vous professez d'etre libre penseur.

_ But I as a believer cannot, in a matter of such gravity, act in opposition to the Christian law.