twenty, should already have solved all the problems of life and of science, and that he should turn Russia upside down, that he would 'give her a shaking!' Dixi!! he added at the end of the line. This word, Dixi, occurred frequently in Kislyakov's effusions, and always with two exclamation marks. In one of the letters there was a socialistic poem, addressed to a girl, and beginning with the words:
'Love not me, but the idea!'
Nezhdanov marvelled inwardly, not so much at Mr. Kislyakov's self-conceit as at Markelov's honest simplicity . . . but then came the thought, 'Good taste be hanged! Mr. Kislyakov even may be of use.'
The three friends all met in the dining-room for morning tea, but the previous night's discussion was not renewed between them. Not one of them was disposed to talk, but only Solomin was placidly silent; both Nezhdanov and Markelov were inwardly perturbed.
After tea they set off to the town; Markelov's old servant, sitting on his locker, followed his former owner with his habitual dejected glance.
The merchant, Golushkin, with whom Nezhdanov was to make acquaintance, was the son of a wealthy merchant in the wholesale drug
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