the first sensation of alarm soon gave place to amusement; some burst out laughing loud and heartily, and seemed to find a malicious satisfaction in the joke. poor hippolyte sobbed hysterically; he wrung his hands; he approached everyone in turn even ferdishenko and took them by both hands, and swore solemnly that he had forgotten absolutely forgotten "accidentally, and not on purpose," to put a cap in that he "had ten of them, at least, in his pocket." he pulled them out and showed them to everyone; he protested that he had not liked to put one in beforehand for fear of an accidental explosion in his pocket. that he had thought he would have lots of time to put it in afterwards when required and, that, in the heat of the moment, he had forgotten all about it. he threw himself upon the prince, then on evgenie pavlovitch.