‘If so ...’ Alexei Alexandrovich began, suddenly turning pale, but at that moment the lawyer got up and went to the door to speak with the assistant, who had interrupted again.
‘Tell her we don’t give discounts!’ he said and went back to Alexei Alexandrovich.
While returning to his place he inconspicuously caught another moth. ‘Fine upholstery I’ll have by summer!’ he thought, frowning.
‘And so, you were kindly saying ...’ he said.
‘I shall inform you of my decision in writing,’ said Alexei Alexandrovich, getting up and taking hold of the desk. After standing silently for a while, he said: ‘I may thus conclude from your words that the carrying through of a divorce is possible. I should also like you to inform me of your terms.’
‘Everything is possible, if you allow me complete freedom of action,’ the lawyer said without answering the question. ‘When may I expect to hear from you?’ he asked, moving towards the door, his eyes and his patent-leather boots shining.
‘In a week. And kindly give me an answer as to whether you will agree to undertake in this case and on what terms.’
‘Very well, sir.’
The lawyer bowed deferentially, let his client out of the door and, left alone, gave himself up to his joyful feeling. He felt so merry that, contrary to his rules, he gave the bargaining lady a lower price and stopped catching moths, having decided finally that by next winter he would have to re-upholster the furniture in velvet, as at Sigonin’s.
VI
