Once after dinner at Konopatskaya’s, Kerbakh and Zherbenev were telling Glafira Pavlovna about Ostrov. Kerbakh was the first to broach the subject:
“I have in view a man whom I should like to call to your attention.”
“I too know a lively chap,” said Zherbenev.
Kerbakh, annoyed at the interruption, looked none too amiably at Zherbenev, and went on:
“He didn’t at all please me at first.”
“My friend also did not appeal to me at the beginning,” said Zherbenev, who would not stay repressed.
“To look at him you might think that he’s a cut-throat,” said Kerbakh.
“That describes my man too,” announced Zherbenev, as if he were announcing something gay and pleasant.
“But at heart,” went on Kerbakh, “he is an ingenuous infant and an enthusiastic patriot.”
“Well, well, and mine’s like that too,” chimed in Zherbenev.