"Peter the valet, a man who stands at the apex of contemporary culture, and could therefore play the rôle, and perform the functions, proper to such an occasion pre-eminently comme il faut."
"I think that you are jesting, my good sir?"
"No, I am not. If you will deign to give my proposal consideration you will speedily arrive at the conviction that it is as simple as it is charged with good sense. Schiller it would be impossible to hide in a bag, but I will undertake to prepare Peter for the part, and to bring him to the rendezvous."
"Still you are pleased to jest," said Paul Petrovitch as he rose. "But as you have so kindly met me, I have not the right to make further claims upon your time. All is arranged, then? In passing, have you any pistols?"
"How should I have any pistols? I am not a man of war."
"Then perhaps you will allow me to offer you some of mine? Rest assured that they have not been fired by me for five years."
"A very comforting assurance!"
"Lastly," said Paul Petrovitch as he reached for his cane, "it only remains for me to thank you, and to leave you to your pursuits. I have the honour to bid you good-day."
"And I to say farewell until our pleasant meeting."
With which Bazarov escorted his visitor to the door.