serious. If, however--"

Then he fell into a brown study while whistling absently a French air.

In spite of all our precautions the news of Pugatchéf's appearance
spread all over the fort. Whatever was the respect in which Iván
Kouzmitch held his wife, he would not have revealed to her for the world
a secret confided to him on military business.

After receiving the Greneral's letter he had rather cleverly got rid of
Vassilissa Igorofna by telling her that Father Garasim had heard most
extraordinary news from Orenburg, which he was keeping most profoundly
dark.

Vassilissa Igorofna instantly had a great wish to go and see the Pope's
wife, and, by the advice of Iván Kouzmitch, she took Masha, lest she
should be dull all alone.

Left master of the field, Iván Kouzmitch sent to fetch us at once, and
took care to shut up Polashka in the kitchen so that she might not spy
upon us.

Vassilissa Igorofna came home without having been able to worm anything
out of the Pope's wife; she learnt upon coming in that during her
absence Iván Kouzmitch had held a council of war, and that Palashka had
been locked up. She suspected that her husband had deceived her, and she
immediately began overwhelming him with questions. But Iván Kouzmitch
was ready for this onset; he did not care in the least, and he boldly
answered his curious better-half--