for having quite forgotten his aunt and himself, listened to fresh praises of that heart of gold, the princess, who had just sent Kupfer from Yaroslav a smoking-cap embroidered with fish-scales . . . and all at once, sitting just opposite Kupfer and looking him straight in the face, he announced that he had been a journey to Kazan.
'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?'
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