“Thank you! Please!” replied Soloveitchik eagerly.
Sanine set the table in the middle of the room, and as he did so, the eyes of all were fixed on his strong back and muscular shoulders which showed through his thin shirt.
“Now, Goschienko, as the initiator of this meeting, it is for you to make the opening speech,” said the pale-faced Dubova, and from the expression in her eyes it was hard to say if she were in earnest, or only laughing at the student.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” began Goschienko, raising his voice, “everybody knows why we have met here to-night, and so we can dispense with any introductory speech.”
“As a matter of fact,” said Sanine, “I don’t know why I came here, but,” he added, laughing, “it may have been because I was told that there would be some beer.”
Goschienko glanced contemptuously at him over the lamp, and continued:
“Our association is formed for the purpose of self-education by means of mutual readings, and debates, and independent discussions—”
“Mutual readings? I don’t understand,” interrupted Dubova in a tone of voice that might have been thought ironical.
Goschienko blushed slightly.
“I meant to say readings in which all take part. Thus, the aim of our association is for the development of individual opinion which shall lead to the formation in town of a league in sympathy with the social democratic party….”