She's related to the Drozdovs." "Related! What an extraordinary coincidence! They say she is ambitious and...

supposed to have great connections." "Nonsense! Connections indeed! She was an old maid without a farthing till she was five-and-forty.

But now she's hooked her Von Lembke, and, of course, her whole object is to push him forward.

They're both intriguers." "And they say she's two years older than he is ?" "Five.

Her mother used to wear out her skirts on my doorsteps in Moscow; she used to beg for an invitation to our balls as a favour when my husband was living.