'You have been to Kazan; what for?'

'Oh, I wanted to collect some facts about that ... Clara Militch.'

'The one that poisoned herself?'

'Yes.'

Kupfer shook his head. 'Well, you are a chap! And so quiet about it! Toiled
a thousand miles out there and back ... for what? Eh? If there'd been
some woman in the case now! Then I can understand anything! anything! any
madness!' Kupfer ruffled up his hair. 'But simply to collect materials, as
it's called among you learned people.... I'd rather be excused! There are
statistical writers to do that job! Well, and did you make friends with the
old lady and the sister? Isn't she a delightful girl?'

'Delightful,' answered Aratov, 'she gave me a great deal of interesting
information.'

'Did she tell you exactly how Clara took poison?'

'You mean ... how?'

'Yes, in what manner?'

'No ... she was still in such grief ... I did not venture to question her
too much. Was there anything remarkable about it?'

'To be sure there was. Only fancy; she had to appear on the stage that very
day, and she acted her part. She took a glass of poison to the theatre