" "I thought today's fete had been canceled.

I confess all these festivities and fireworks are becoming wearisome.

" "If they had known that you wished it, the entertainment would have been put off," said the prince, who, like a wound-up clock, by force of habit said things he did not even wish to be believed.

"Don't tease! Well, and what has been decided about Novosiltsev's dispatch? You know everything.