mitri...! I beg your pardon,' she added with a cordial smile, 'what is
your paternal name?'

'Nikolaitch.'

'Never mind, my dear Dmitri Nikolaitch, he did not deceive any of us. He
wants to make a show of not wishing to argue any more. He is conscious
that he cannot argue with you. But you had better sit nearer to us and
let us have a little talk.'

Rudin moved his chair up.

'How is it we have not met till now?' was Darya Mihailovna's question.
'That is what surprises me. Have you read this book? _C'est de
Tocqueville, vous savez_?'

And Darya Mihailovna held out the French pamphlet to Rudin.

Rudin took the thin volume in his hand, turned over a few pages of
it, and laying it down on the table, replied that he had not read that
particular work of M. de Tocqueville, but that he had often reflected
on the question treated by him. A conversation began to spring up. Rudin
seemed uncertain at first, and not disposed to speak out freely; his
words did not come readily, but at last he grew warm and began to speak.
In a quarter of an hour his voice was the only sound in the room, All
were crowding in a circle round him.

Only Pigasov remained aloof, in a corner by the fireplace. Rudin spoke
with intelligence, with fire and with judgment; he showed much learning,
wide reading. No one had expected to find in him a remarkable man. His
clothes were so shabby, so little was known of him. Every one felt it
strange and incomprehensible that such a clever man should have suddenly
made his appearance in the country. He seemed all the more wonderful
and, one may even say, fascinating to all of them, beginning with
Darya Mihailovna. She was pluming herself on having discovered him, and
already at this early date was dreaming of how she would introduce Rudin
into the world. In her quickness to receive impressions there was much
that was almost childish, in spite of her years. Alexandra Pavlovna, to
tell the truth, understood little of all that Rudin said, but was full
of wonder and delight; her brother too was admiring him. Pandalevsky was
watching Darya Mihailovna and was filled with envy. Pigasov thought,
'If I have to give five hundred roubles I will get a nightingale to
sing better than that!' But the most impressed of all the party were
Bassistoff and Natalya. Scarcely a breath escaped Bassistoff; he sat the
whole time with open mouth and round eyes and listened--listened as
he had never listened to any one in his life--whil