"H'm!" he grunted. "Arkady does indeed seem solicitous for your education! Have you tried reading the book?"
"Yes."
"And how do you like it?"
"Well, either I am a fool or the thing is rubbish. Of the two views, the former seems to me the most probable."
"It is not because you have forgotten your German, I suppose?"
"Oh no. I understand the language perfectly."
Again Paul Petrovitch turned over the book, and again he glanced at his brother from under his brows. A moment's silence ensued.
"By the way," continued Nikolai Petrovitch with an evident desire to change the conversation, "I have received a letter from Koliazin."
"From Matvei Ilyitch?"
"From the same. It seems that he has just arrived at ——, for the purpose of carrying out the Revision[2] of the province, and he writes very civilly that, as our kinsman, he would be glad to see Arkady and you and myself."