“Theveryfactthatshecouldaddressmewithsomuchsympathyandkindnessstruckmedumb。AsregardsDoctorKliachka，Imaymentionthathewasagood-looking，blotchy-faced，heavy-jowledfellowwithamoustachethatreachedtohisshoulders，andlipsthatwereforeverlaughingandvociferating。’Nothinghaseitherabeginningoranend。Theonlythingreallyexistentispleasure。’
“Nay，eventheGeneralcould，attimes，makesportofthefellow，andsayasheshookwithmerriment:
“’Adoctor-comedianisthesortofmanthatyouare。’
“Now，attheperiodofwhichIamspeakingIwasasstraightasadart，andhadashockofluxurianthairoverasetofruddyfeatures。Also，Iwaslivingalifecleanineveryway，andmaintainingacautiousattitudetowardswomenfolk，andholdingprostitutesinacontemptbornofthefactthatIhadhigherviewswithregardtomylife’sdestiny。Lastly，Ineverindulgedinliquor，forIactuallydislikedit，andgavewaytoitsinfluenceonlyindayssubsequenttotheepisodewhichIamnarrating。Yes，and，lastofall，IwasinthehabitoftakingabatheverySaturday。
“ThesameeveningKliachkaandtherestofthepartywentouttothetheatrefor，naturally，theGeneralhadhorsesandacarriageofhisown，andI，formypart，wenttoinformLukianovofwhathadhappened。