Old Tikhon, wearing a wig, put his head out of the door of the antechamber, reported in a whisper that the prince was sleeping, and hastily closed the door.

Tikhon knew that neither the son's arrival nor any other unusual event must be allowed to disturb the appointed order of the day.

Prince Andrew apparently knew this as well as Tikhon; he looked at his watch as if to ascertain whether his father's habits had changed since he was at home last, and, having assured himself that they had not, he turned to his wife.

"He will get up in twenty minutes.

Let us go across to Mary's room," he said.