"And what sort precisely?" asked Veriga with a shade of approaching displeasure in his voice.
"What I wanted was a Constitution without a Parliament," explained Peredonov, "because in a Parliament they only wrangle."
Veriga's eyes lit up with quiet amusement.
"A Constitution without a Parliament!" he said reflectively. "Do you think it's practical?"
"But even that was a long time ago," said Peredonov. "Now I want nothing of the sort."
And he looked hopefully at Veriga.
Veriga blew a thin wisp of smoke from his lips, was silent a moment, and then said slowly:
"Well, you're a schoolmaster. And my duties in the district have something to do with the schools. Now, in your opinion, to what kind of school would you give preference: to the Parish Church Schools or to the so-called secularised District Schools?"
Veriga knocked the ash from his cigar and fixed an amiable but very attentive gaze on Peredonov. Peredonov frowned, looked into the corners and said:
"The District Schools ought to be reorganised."