"I see you know all about it already.

When I had gone from here I reflected in the carriage that I ought at least to have told you the story instead of going off like that.

But when I remembered that Pyotr Stepanovitch was still here, I thought no more of it." As he spoke he took a cursory look round.
"Pyotr Stepanovitch told us an old Petersburg episode in the life of a queer fellow," Varvara Petrovna rejoined enthusiastically--"a mad and capricious fellow, though always lofty in his feelings, always chivalrous and noble...." "Chivalrous?
You don't mean to say it's come to that," laughed Nicolas.
"However, I'm very grateful to Pyotr Stepanovitch for being in such a hurry this time." He exchanged a rapid glance with the latter.

"You must know, maman, that Pyotr Stepanovitch is the universal peacemaker; that's his part in life, his weakness, his hobby, and I particularly recommend him to you from that point of view.

I can guess what a yarn he's been spinning.