XX
'Well, now', Paklin was the first to begin, 'we have been in the eighteenth century; now lead the way full trot to the twentieth. . . . Golushkin's such an advanced man that it wouldn't do to reckon him in the nineteenth.'
'Why, do you know him?' inquired Nezhdanov.
'The earth is full of his glory; and I said, "lead the way," because I meant to come with you.'
'How's that? why, you don't know him, do you?'
'Get along! Did you know my poll-parrots?'
'But you introduced us!'
'Well, and do you introduce me. You can have no secrets from me, and Golushkin's an open heart. You'll see he'll be delighted to see some one new. And we don't stand on ceremony here in S———!'
'Yes,' muttered Markelov, 'people seem unceremonious here certainly.'
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