Varvara Petrovna was wounded of course, and meanwhile some strange rumours had reached her which also irritated her extremely, especially by their vagueness.

Varvara Petrovna was of a direct and proudly frank character, somewhat slap-dash in her methods, indeed, if the expression is permissible.

There was nothing she detested so much as secret and mysterious insinuations, she always preferred war in the open.

Anyway, the two ladies had not met for five days.

The last visit had been paid by Varvara Petrovna, who had come back from "that Drozdov woman" offended and perplexed.