I bet you’ll start talking about some “topic”, something serious, learned and exalted, won’t you? How… proper that will be!’ ‘I think that would be stupid… if it wasn’t appropriate.’ ‘Listen, once and for all,’ Aglaya broke down, at last. ‘If you start talking about anything like the death penalty, or the economic condition of Russia, or “beauty saving the world”, then… I shall be delighted and laugh a great deal, but… I warn you now: never show yourself to my gaze again! Do you hear? I’m serious! This time I really am serious!’
