When my wife was alive--how I wish that you could have known her! Such a remarkable woman; every one who met her was struck by her fine character--when my wife was alive I had my position to support.

That I should have been a comic figure would have distressed her.

But now, who cares?
Nobody, you may very truly say....
Well, well.

But the point is that this evening we shall really be in the thick of it.

And--may I tell you something, Ivan Andreievitch?
Only for yourself, because you are an Englishman and can be trusted: to speak quite truthfully I'm frightened.