“So I see,” replied Sanine.
Novikoff shook the other’s hand and whispered hurriedly, as if by way of excuse, “Lidia Petrovna has got visitors.”
“Oh! yes.”
“Have we only come here to talk?” asked the Polytechnic student with some irritation. “Do let us make a start.”
“Then you have not begun yet?” said Novikoff, evidently pleased. He shook hands with the two workmen, who hastily rose from their seats. It was embarrassing to meet the doctor as a fellow-comrade, when at the hospital he was wont to treat them as his inferiors.
Goschienko, looking rather annoyed, then began.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are naturally all desirous to widen our outlook, and to broaden our views of life; and, believing that the best method of self-culture and of self-development lies in a systematic course of reading and an interchange of opinions regarding the books read, we have decided to start this little club….”
“That’s right,” sighed Pistzoff approvingly, as he looked round at the company with his bright, dark eyes.
“The question now arises: What books ought we to read? Possibly some one here present could make a suggestion regarding the programme that should be adopted?”
Schafroff put on his glasses and slowly stood up. In his hand he held a small note-book.