Page:The Novels of Ivan Turgenev (volume VI).djvu/214

Rh 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