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learnt； and so to go through the examinations to no purpose
whatsoever。
X
THE EXAMINATION IN HISTORY
ON the 16th of April I entered； for the first time； and under the
wing of St。 Jerome； the great hall of the University。 I had
driven there with St。 Jerome in our smart phaeton and wearing the
first frockcoat of my life； while the whole of my other clothes
even down to my socks and linenwere new and of a grander sort。
When a Swiss waiter relieved me of my greatcoat； and I stood
before him in all the beauty of my attire； I felt almost sorry to
dazzle him so。 Yet I had no sooner entered the bright； carpeted；
crowded hall； and caught sight of hundreds of other young men in
gymnasium ＇The Russian gymnasium = the English grammar or
secondary school。＇ uniforms or frockcoats （of whom but a few
threw me an indifferent glance）； as well as； at the far end； of
some solemn…looking professors who were seated on chairs or
walking carelessly about among some tables； than I at once became
disabused of the notion that I should attract the general
attention； while the expression of my face； which at home； and
even in the vestibule of the University buildings； had denoted
only a kind of vague regret that I should have to present so
important and distinguished an appearance； became exchanged for
an expression of the most acute nervousness and dejection。
However； I soon picked up again when I perceived sitting at one
of the desks a very badly； untidily dressed gentleman who；
though not really old； was almost entirely grey。 He was occupying
a seat quite at the back of the hall and a little apart from the
rest； so I hastened to sit down beside him； and then fell to
looking at the candidates for examination； and to forming
conclusions about them。 Many different figures and faces were
there to be seen there； yet； in my opinion； they all seemed to
divide themselves into three classes。 First of all； there were
youths like myself； attending for examination in the company of
their parents or tutors。 Among such I could see the youngest Iwin
（accompanied by Frost） and Ilinka Grap （accompanied by his old
father）。 All youths of this class wore the early beginnings of
beards； sported prominent linen； sat quietly in their places； and
never opened the books and notebooks which they had brought with
them； but gazed at the professors and examination tables with
ill…concealed nervousness。 The second class of candidates were
young men in gymnasium uniforms。 Several of them had attained to
the dignity of shaving； and most of them knew one another。 They
talked loudly； called the professors by their names and surnames；
occupied themselves in getting their subjects ready； exchanged
notebooks； climbed over desks； fetched themselves pies and
sandwiches from the vestibule； and ate them then and there merely
lowering their heads to the level of a desk for propriety's sake。
Lastly； the third class of candidates （which seemed a small one）
consisted of oldish mensome of them in frock coats； but the
majority in jackets； and with no linen to be seen。 These
preserved a serious demeanour； sat by themselves； and had a very
dingy look。 The man who had afforded me consolation by being
worse dressed than myself belonged to this class。 Leaning forward
upon his elbows； and running his fingers through his grey；
dishevelled hair as he read some book or another； he had thrown
me only a momentary glanceand that not a very friendly one
from a pair of glittering eyes。 Then； as I sat down； he had
frowned grimly； and stuck a shiny elbow out to prevent me from
coming any nearer。 On the other hand； the gymnasium men were
over…sociable； and I felt rather afraid of their proximity。 One
of them did not hesitate to thrust a book into my hands； saying；
〃Give that to that fellow over there； will you？〃 while another
of them exclaimed as he pushed past me； 〃By your leave； young
fellow！〃 and a third made use of my shoulder as a prop when he
wanted to scramble over a desk。 All this seemed to me a little
rough and unpleasant； for I looked upon myself as immensely
superior to such fellows； and considered that they ought not to
treat me with such familiarity。 At length； the names began to be
called out。 The gymnasium men walked out boldly； answered their
questions （apparently） well； and came back looking cheerful。 My
own class of candidates were much more diffident； as well as
appeared to answer worse。 Of the oldish men； some answered well；
and some very poorly。 When the name 〃Semenoff 〃 was called out my
neighbour with the grey hair and glittering eyes jostled me
roughly； stepped over my legs； and went up to one of the
examiners' tables。 It was plain from the aspect of the professors
that he answered well and with assurance； yet； on returning to
his place； he did not wait to see where he was placed on the
list； but quietly collected his notebooks and departed。 Several
times I shuddered at the sound of the voice calling out the
names； but my turn did not come in exact alphabetical order；
though already names had begun to be called beginning with 〃I。〃
〃Ikonin and Tenieff！〃 suddenly shouted some one from the
professors' end of the hall。
〃Go on； Ikonin！ You are being called；〃 said a tall； red…faced
gymnasium student near me。 〃But who is this BARtenieff or
MORtenieff or somebody？ I don't know him。〃
〃It must be you；〃 whispered St。 Jerome loudly in my ear。
〃MY name is IRtenieff；〃 I said to the red…faced student。 〃Do you
think that was the name they were calling out？〃
〃Yes。 Why on earth don't you go up？ 〃 he replied。 〃Lord； what a
dandy！〃 he added under his breath； yet not so quietly but that I
failed to hear the words as they came wafted to me from below the
desk。 In front of me walked Ikonina tall young man of about
twenty…five； who was one of those whom I had classed as oldish
men。 He wore a tight brown frockcoat and a blue satin tie； and
had wisps of flaxen hair carefully brushed over his collar in the
peasant style。 His appearance had already caught my attention
when we were sitting among the desks； and had given me an
impression that he was not bad…looking。 Also I had noticed that
he was very talkative。 Yet what struck me most about his
physiognomy was a tuft； of queer red hairs which he had under his
chin； as well as； still more； a strange habit of continually
unbuttoning his waistcoat and scratching his chest under his
shirt。
Behind the table to which we were summoned sat three Professors；
none of whom acknowledged our salutations。 A youngish professor
was shuffling a bundle of tickets like a pack of cards； another
one； with a star on his frockcoat； was gazing hard at a gymnasium
student； who was repeating something at great speed about Charles
the Great； and adding to each of his sentences the word nakonetz
＇= the English colloquialism 〃you know。〃＇ while a third onean
old man in spectaclesproceeded to bend his head down as we
approached； and； peering at us through his glasses； pointed
silently to the tickets。 I felt his glance go over both myself
and Ikonin； and also felt sure that something about us had
displeased him （perhaps it was Ikonin's red hairs）； for； after
taking another look at the pair of us； he motioned impatiently to
us to be quick in taking our tickets。 I felt vexed and offended
firstly； because none of the professors had responded to our
bows； and； secondly； because they evidently coupled me with
Ikonin under the one denomination of 〃candidates；〃 and so were
condemning me in advance on account of Ikonin's red hairs。 I took
my ticket boldly and made ready to answer； but the professor's
eye passed over my head and alighted upon Ikonin。 Accordingly； I
occupied myself in reading my ticket。 The questions printed on it
were all familiar to me； so； as I silently awaited my turn； I
gazed at what was passing near me； Ikonin seemed in no way
diffidentrather the reverse； for； in reaching for his ticket；
he threw his body half…way across the table。 Then he gave his
long hair a shake； and rapidly conned over what was written on
his ticket。 I think he had just opened his mouth to answer when
the professor with the star dismissed the gymnasium student with
a word of commendation； and then turned and looked at Ikonin。 At
once the latter seemed taken back； and stopped short。 For about
two minutes there was a dead silence。
〃Well？〃 said the professor in the spectacles。
Once more Ikonin opened his mouth； and once more remained silent。
〃 Come！ You are not the only one to be examined。 Do you mean to
answer or do you not？〃 said the youngish professor； but Ikonin
did not even look at him。 He was gazing fixedly at his ticket and
uttered not a single word。 The professor in the spectacles
scanned him through his glasses； then over them； then without
them （for； indeed； he had time to take them off； to wipe their
lenses carefully； and to replace them）。 Stil