Not knowing what token to give him of his sudden affection, he ended by offering him the hand of one of his cousins, a wealthy heiress in Moscow; 'and once you are married,' he explained, 'my influence and the Cross you are wearing will make you a Colonel in two years.'
Ne sachant comment lui témoigner son amitié soudaine, il finit par lui offrir la main d’une de ses cousines, riche héritière de Moscou. Et une fois marié, ajouta-t-il, mon influence et la croix que vous avez là vous font colonel en deux ans.