ary,
we have perfectly arranged that matter with your manager; I have agreed
to all his proposals.'

'I knew that. But he told me that the contract could not be signed
without a personal interview with you.'

'Yes; that is my rule. By the way, allow me to ask: all your peasants, I
believe, pay rent?'

'Just so.'

'And you trouble yourself about boundaries! That's very praiseworthy.'

Lezhnyov did not speak for a minute.

'Well, I have come for a personal interview,' he said at last.

Darya Mihailovna smiled.

'I see you have come. You say that in such a tone.... You could not have
been very anxious to come to see me.'

'I never go anywhere,' rejoined Lezhnyov phlegmatically.

'Not anywhere? But you go to see Alexandra Pavlovna.'

'I am an old friend of her brother's.'

'Her brother's! However, I never wish to force any one.... But pardon
me, Mihailo Mihailitch, I am older than you, and I may be allowed to
give you advice; what charm do you find in such an unsociable way of
living? Or is my house in particular displeasing to you? You dislike
me?'

'I don't know you, Darya Mihailovna, and so I can't dislike you. You
have a splendid house; but I will confess to you frankly I don't like to
have to stand on ceremony. And I haven't a respectable suit, I haven't
any gloves, and I don't belong to your set.'

'By birth, by education, you belong to it, Mihailo Mihailitch! _vous
etes des notres_.'

'Birth and education are all very well, Darya Mihailovna; that's not the
question.'

'A man ought to live with his fellows, Mihailo Mihailitch! What pleasure
is there in sitting like Diogenes in his tub?'

'Well, to begin with, he was very well off there, and besides, how do
you know I don't live with my fellows?'

Darya Mihailovna bit her lip.

'That's a different matter! It only remains for me to express my regret
that I have not the honour of being included in the number of your
friends.'

'Monsieur Lezhnyov,' put in Rudin, 'seems to carry to excess a laudable
sentiment--the love of independence.'

Lezhnyov made no reply, he only looked at Rudin. A short silence
followed.

'And so,' began Lezhnyov, getting up, 'I may consider our business as
concluded, and tell your manager to send me the papers.'

'You may,... though I confess you are so uncivil I ought really to
refuse you.'

'But you know this rearrangement of the boundary is far more in your
interest than in mine.'

Darya Mihailovna shrugged he