certainly very comic. All the mystery surrounding him, oppressing him — everything weird was sent flying instantaneously.
'No, Platosha dear, there 's no need,' he said. 'Please forgive me for unwittingly troubling you. Sleep well, and I will sleep too.'
Platonida Ivanovna remained a minute standing where she was, pointed to the candle, grumbled, 'Why not put it out . . . an accident happens in a minute?' and as she went out, could not refrain, though only at a distance, from making the sign of the cross over him.
Aratov fell asleep quickly, and slept till morning. He even got up in a happy frame of mind . . . though he felt sorry for something. . . . He felt light and free. 'What romantic fancies, if you come to think of it!' he said to himself with a smile. He never once glanced either at the stereoscope, or at the page torn out of the diary. Immediately after breakfast, however, he set off to go to Kupfer's.
What drew him there . . . he was dimly aware.
XVI
Aratov found his sanguine friend at home. He chatted a little with him, reproached him
85
