ared his
throat significantly, asked if they would not partake of something, and
was the first to gulp down a glass of strong pepper-brandy. The guests
partook of refreshments. Golushkin thrust huge pieces of caviar into his
mouth and drank incessantly, saying every now and again:

"Come, gentlemen, come, some splendid Macon, please!" Turning to
Nejdanov, he began asking him where he had come from, where he was
staying and for how long, and on hearing that he was staying at
Sipiagin's, exclaimed: "I know this gentleman! Nothing in him whatever!"
and instantly began abusing all the landowners in the province because,
he said, not only were they void of public spirit, but they did not even
understand their own interests.

But, strange to say, in spite of his being so abusive, his eyes wandered
about uneasily. Nejdanov could not make him out at all, and wondered
what possible use he could be to them. Solomin was silent as usual and
Markelov wore such a gloomy expression that Nejdanov could not help
asking what was the matter with him. Markelov declared that it was
nothing in a tone in which people commonly let you understand that there
is something wrong, but that it does not concern you. Golushkin again
started abusing someone or other and then went on to praise the new
generation. "Such clever chaps they are nowadays! Clever chaps!" Solomin
interrupted him by asking about the hopeful young man whom he had
mentioned and where he had discovered him. Golushkin laughed, repeating
once or twice, "Just wait, you will see! You will see!" and began
questioning him about his factory and its "rogue" of an owner, to
which Solomin replied in monosyllables. Then Golushkin poured them all
champagne, and bending over to Nejdanov, whispered in his ear, "To the
republic!" and drank off his glass at a gulp. Nejdanov merely put
his lips to the glass; Solomin said that he did not take wine in the
morning; and Markelov angrily and resolutely drank his glass to the last
drop. He was torn by impatience. "Here we are coolly wasting our time
and not tackling the real matter in hand." He struck a blow on the
table, exclaiming severely, "Gentlemen!" and began to speak.

But at this moment there entered a sleek, consumptive-looking man with a
long neck, in a merchant's coat of nankeen, and arms outstretched like
a bird. He bowed to the whole company and, approaching Golushkin,
communicated something to him in a whisper.

"In a minute! In a minu