"heaven forbid!" he answered, with a forced smile. "but i am more than ever struck by your eccentricity, lizabetha prokofievna. i admit that i told you of lebedeff’s duplicity, on purpose. i knew the effect it would have on you, on you alone, for the prince will forgive him. he has probably forgiven him already, and is racking his brains to find some excuse for him is not that the truth, prince?"