uld not dream of introducing us,
nor of recommending me to the "Comte." However, the latter had lived
awhile in Russia, and knew that the person referred to as an "uchitel"
is never looked upon as a bird of fine feather. Of course, strictly
speaking, he knew me; but I was an uninvited guest at the luncheon--the
General had forgotten to arrange otherwise, or I should have been
dispatched to dine at the table d'hote. Nevertheless, I presented
myself in such guise that the General looked at me with a touch of
approval; and, though the good Maria Philipovna was for showing me my
place, the fact of my having previously met the Englishman, Mr. Astley,
saved me, and thenceforward I figured as one of the company.

This strange Englishman I had met first in Prussia, where we had
happened to sit vis-a-vis in a railway train in which I was travelling
to overtake our party; while, later, I had run across him in France,
and again in Switzerland--twice within the space of two weeks! To
think, therefore, that I should suddenly encounter him again here, in
Roulettenberg! Never in my life had I known a more retiring man, for he
was shy to the pitch of imbecility, yet well aware of the fact (for he
was no fool). At the same time, he was a gentle, amiable sort of an
individual, and, even on our first encounter in Prussia I had contrived
to draw him out, and he had told me that he had just been to the North
Cape, and was now anxious to visit the fair at Nizhni Novgorod. How he
had come to make the General's acquaintance I do not know, but,
apparently, he was much struck with Polina. Also, he was delighted that
I should sit next him at table, for he appeared to look upon me as his
bosom friend.

During the meal the Frenchman was in great feather: he was discursive
and pompous to every one. In Moscow too, I remembered, he had blown a
great many bubbles. Interminably he discoursed on finance and Russian
politics, and though, at times, the General made feints to contradict
him, he did so humbly, and as though wishing not wholly to lose sight
of his own dignity.

For myself, I was in a curious frame of mind. Even before luncheon was
half finished I had asked myself the old, eternal question: "WHY do I
continue to dance attendance upon the General, instead of having left
him and his family long ago?" Every now and then I would glance at
Polina Alexandrovna, but she paid me no attention; until eventually I
became so irritated that I decided to