If he starts a row I'll go away

　　Prince Vasili and Anatole had separate rooms assigned to them.

　　Anatole, having taken off his overcoat, sat with arms akimbobefore a table on a corner of which he smilingly and absent-mindedlyfixed his large and handsome eyes. He regarded his whole life as acontinual round of amusement which someone for some reason had toprovide for him. And he looked on this visit to a churlish old man anda rich and ugly heiress in the same way. All this might, he thought,turn out very well and amusingly. "And why not marry her if she reallyhas so much money? That never does any harm," thought Anatole.

　　He shaved and scented himself with the care and elegance which hadbecome habitual to him and, his handsome head held high, entered hisfather's room with the good-humored and victorious air natural to him.Prince Vasili's two valets were busy dressing him, and he looked roundwith much animation and cheerfully nodded to his son as the latterentered, as if to say: "Yes, that's how I want you to look."

　　"I say, Father, joking apart, is she very hideous?" Anatole asked,as if continuing a conversation the subject of which had often beenmentioned during the journey.

　　"Enough! What nonsense! Above all, try to be respectful and cautiouswith the old prince."

　　"If he starts a row I'll go away," said Prince Anatole. "I can'tbear those old men! Eh?"

　　"Remember, for you everything depends on this."

　　In the meantime, not only was it known in the maidservants' roomsthat the minister and his son had arrived, but the appearance ofboth had been minutely described. Princess Mary was sitting alone inher room, vainly trying to master her agitation.

　　"Why did they write, why did Lise tell me about it? It can neverhappen!" she said, looking at herself in the glass. "How shall I enterthe drawing room? Even if I like him I can't now be myself withhim." The mere thought of her father's look filled her with terror.The little princess and Mademoiselle Bourienne had already receivedfrom Masha, the lady's maid, the necessary report of how handsomethe minister's son was, with his rosy cheeks and dark eyebrows, andwith what difficulty the father had dragged his legs upstairs whilethe son had followed him like an eagle, three steps at a time.Having received this information, the little princess and MademoiselleBourienne, whose chattering voices had reached her from thecorridor, went into Princess Mary's room.