I know nothing about mad people, but I am sure that no honest man ever invented a story out of nothing and then became crazy because it did not turn out true." "But you, who have travelled so much, Herr Schmidt, have you ever heard the name before--have you ever heard of such a family ?" "I have a bad memory for names, but I believe I have.

I cannot be sure.

It makes no difference.

It is a good Russian name, in any case, and a gentleman's name, I should think.

Of course I only mean that I--that you should not think that because I--in fact," blundered out the good man, "you must not suppose that you will be a real countess, you know." "I ?" exclaimed Vjera, with a nervous, hysterical laugh, which the Cossack supposed to be genuine.
"That is all I wanted to say," he continued in a tone of relief, as though he felt that he had done his duty in warning the poor girl of a possible disappointment.