“By the impression they produce on me.”
“Admirable. I like you for your candour. Let us take an example. What is your opinion of me?”
“I am afraid of you.”
Niel Andreevich laughed complacently.
“Tell me why. You may speak quite plainly.”
“Why I am afraid of you? They say you find fault with everybody,” he went on, heedless of Tatiana Markovna’s efforts to interrupt. “My Grandmother tells me that you lectured one man for not having attended Mass.”
Tatiana Markovna went hot all over, and taking off her cap, put it down behind her.
“I am glad she told you that. I like to have my doings correctly reported. Yes, I do lecture people sometimes. Do you remember?” he appealed to the young men at the door.
“At your service, your Excellency,” answered one of them quickly, putting one foot forward and his hands behind his back. “I once received one.”
“And why?”