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hauled before the professor for so doing）； the stealthy closing
of the door as one returned to the auditorium； and the
participation in 〃course versus course〃 scuffles in the
corridors。 All this was very enjoyable。
By the time； however； that every one had begun to put in a better
attendance at lectures； and the professor of physics had
completed his course and taken his leave of us until the
examinations came on； and the students were busy collecting their
notebooks and arranging to do their preparation in parties； it
struck me that I also had better prepare for the ordeal。 Operoff；
with whom I still continued on bowing； but otherwise most frigid；
terms； suddenly offered not only to lend me his notebooks； but to
let me do my preparation with himself and some other students。 I
thanked him； and accepted the invitationhoping by that
conferment of honour completely to dissipate our old
misunderstanding； but at the same time I requested that the
gatherings should always be held at my home； since my quarters
were so splendid！ To this the students replied that they meant to
take turn and turn aboutsometimes to meet at one fellow's
place； sometimes at another's； as might be most convenient。
The first of our reunions was held at Zuchin's； who had a small
partition…room in a large building on the Trubni Boulevard。 The
opening night I arrived late； and entered when the reading aloud
had already begun。 The little apartment was thick with tobacco…
smoke； while on the table stood a bottle of vodka； a decanter；
some bread； some salt； and a shin…bone of mutton。 Without rising；
Zuchin asked me to have some vodka and to doff my tunic。
〃I expect you are not accustomed to such entertainment；〃 he
added。
Every one was wearing a dirty cotton shirt and a dickey。
Endeavouring not to show my contempt for the company； I took off
my tunic； and lay down in a sociable manner on the sofa。 Zuchin
went on reading aloud and correcting himself with the help of
notebooks； while the others occasionally stopped him to ask a
question； which he always answered with ability； correctness； and
precision。 I listened for a time with the rest； but； not
understanding much of it； since I had not been present at what
had been read before； soon interpolated a question。
〃Hullo； old fellow！ It will be no good for you to listen if you
do not know the subject；〃 said Zuchin。 〃I will lend you my
notebooks； and then you can read it up by to…morrow； and I will
explain it to you。〃
I felt rather ashamed of my ignorance。 Also； I felt the truth of
what he said； so I gave up listening； and amused myself by
observing my new comrades。 According to my classification of
humanity； into persons 〃comme il faut〃 and persons not 〃comme il
faut；〃 they evidently belonged to the latter category； and so
aroused in me not only a feeling of contempt； but also a certain
sensation of personal hostility； for the reason that； though not
〃comme il faut；〃 they accounted me their equal； and actually
patronised me in a sort of good…humoured fashion。 What in
particular excited in me this feeling was their feet； their dirty
nails and fingers； a particularly long talon on Operoff's
obtrusive little finger； their red shirts； their dickeys； the
chaff which they good…naturedly threw at one another； the dirty
room； a habit which Zuchin had of continually snuffling and
pressing a finger to his nose； and； above all； their manner of
speakingthat is to say； their use and intonation of words。 For
instance； they said 〃flat〃 for fool； 〃just the ticket〃 for
exactly； 〃grandly〃 for splendidly； and so onall of which seemed
to me either bookish or disagreeably vulgar。 Still more was my
〃comme il faut 〃 refinement disturbed by the accents which they
put upon certain Russianand； still more； upon foreignwords。
Thus they said dieYATelnost for DIEyatelnost； NARochno for
naROChno； v'KAMinie for v'kaMINie； SHAKespeare for ShakesPEARe；
and so forth。
Yet； for all their insuperably repellent exterior； I could detect
something good in these fellows； and envied them the cheerful
good…fellowship which united them in one。 Consequently； I began to
feel attracted towards them； and made up my mind that； come what
might； I would become of their number。 The kind and honourable
Operoff I knew already； and now the brusque； but exceptionally
clever； Zuchin （who evidently took the lead in this circle） began
to please me greatly。 He was a dark； thick…set little fellow；
with a perennially glistening； polished face； but one that was
extremely lively； intellectual； and independent in its
expression。 That expression it derived from a low； but
prominent； forehead； deep black eyes； short； bristly hair； and a
thick； dark beard which looked as though it stood in constant
need of trimming。 Although； too； he seemed to think nothing of
himself （a trail which always pleased me in people）； it was clear
that he never let his brain rest。 He had one of those expressive
faces which； a few hours after you have seen them for the first
time； change suddenly and entirely to your view。 Such a change
took place； in my eyes； with regard to Zuchin's face towards the
end of that evening。 Suddenly； I seemed to see new wrinkles appear
upon its surface； its eyes grow deeper； its smile become a
different one； and the whole face assume such an altered aspect
that I scarcely recognised it。
When the reading was ended； Zuchin； the other students； and
myself manifested our desire to be 〃comrades all〃 by drinking
vodka until little remained in the bottle。 Thereupon Zuchin asked
if any one had a quarter…rouble to spare； so that he could send
the old woman who looked after him to buy some more； yet； on my
offering to provide the money； he made as though he had not heard
me； and turned to Operoff； who pulled out a purse sewn with
bugles； and handed him the sum required。
〃And mind you don't get drunk；〃 added the giver； who himself had
not partaken of the vodka。
〃By heavens！〃 answered Zuchin as he sucked the marrow out of a
mutton bone （I remember thinking that it must be because he ate
marrow that he was so clever）。 〃By heavens！〃 he went on with a
slight smile （and his smile was of the kind that one
involuntarily noticed； and somehow felt grateful for）； 〃even if I
did get drunk； there would be no great harm done。 I wonder which
of us two could look after himself the betteryou or I？ Anyway I
am willing to make the experiment；〃 and he slapped his forehead
with mock boastfulness。 〃But what a pity it is that Semenoff has
disappeared！ He has gone and completely hidden himself
somewhere。〃
Sure enough； the grey…haired Semenoff who had comforted me so
much at my first examination by being worse dressed than myself；
and who； after passing the second examination； had attended his
lectures regularly during the first month； had disappeared
thereafter from view； and never been seen at the University
throughout the latter part of the course。
〃Where is he？〃 asked some one。
〃I do not know〃 replied Zuchin。 〃He has escaped my eye
altogether。 Yet what fun I used to have with him！ What fire there
was in the man！ and what an intellect！ I should be indeed sorry
if he has come to griefand come to grief he probably has； for
he was no mere boy to take his University course in instalments。〃
After a little further conversation； and agreeing to meet again
the next night at Zuchin's； since his abode was the most central
point for us all； we began to disperse。 As； one by one； we left
the room； my conscience started pricking me because every one
seemed to be going home on foot； whereas I had my drozhki。
Accordingly； with some hesitation I offered Operoff a lift。
Zuchin came to the door with us； and； after borrowing a rouble of
Operoff； went off to make a night of it with some friends。 As we
drove along； Operoff told me a good deal about Zuchin's character
and mode of life； and on reaching home it was long before I could
get to sleep for thinking of the new acquaintances I had made。
For many an hour； as I lay awake； I kept wavering between the
respect which their knowledge； simplicity； and sense of honour；
as well as the poetry of their youth and courage； excited in my
regard； and the distaste which I felt for their outward man。 In
spite of my desire to do so； it was at that time literally
impossible for me to associate with them； since our ideas were
too wholly at variance。 For me； life's meaning and charm contained
an infinitude of shades of which they had not an inkling； and
vice versa。 The greatest obstacles of all； however； to our better
acquaintance I felt to be the twenty roubles' worth of cloth in
my tunic； my drozhki； and my white linen shirt； and they appeared
to me most important obstacles； since they made me feel as though
I had unwittingly insulted these comrades by displaying such
tokens of my wealth。 I felt guilty in their eyes； and a