"come along then," said evgenie; "it’s a glorious evening. but, to prove that this time i was speaking absolutely seriously, and especially to prove this to the prince (for you, prince, have interested me exceedingly, and i swear to you that i am not quite such an ass as i like to appear sometimes, although i am rather an ass, i admit), and well, ladies and gentlemen, will you allow me to put just one more question to the prince, out of pure curiosity? it shall be the last.