He laughs at his inventions, you know."
I nodded my head. Yes, with my earlier experience of him I could
understand that he would do that.
"He's a cynical, embittered man," I said. "He believes in nothing and in
nobody. And yet he has his fine side--"
"No, he has no fine side," she interrupted me fiercely. "None. He is a
bad man. I've known him all my life, and I'm not to be deceived."
Then in a softer, quieter tone she continued:
"But tell me, Ivan Andreievitch. I've wanted before to ask you. You were
with him on the Front last year. We have heard that he had a great love
affair there, and that the Sister whom he loved was killed. Is that
true?"
"Yes," I said, "that is true."
"Was he very much in love with her?"
"I believe terribly."
"And it hurt him deeply when she was killed?"
"Desperately deeply."
"But what kind of woman was she? What type? It's so strange to me. Uncle
Alexei... with his love affairs!"
I looked up, smiling. "She was your very opposite, Vera Michailovna, in
everything. Like a child--with no knowledge, no experience, no
self-reliance--nothing. She was wonderful in her ignorance and bravery.
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