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'Semyon Zaharovitch is in the service again, now, and receiving a

salary,' says she, 'and he went himself to his excellency and his

excellency himself came out to him, made all the others wait and

led Semyon Zaharovitch by the hand before everybody into his

study.' Do you hear, do you hear? 'To be sure,' says he, 'Semyon

Zaharovitch, remembering your past services,' says he, 'and in

spite of your propensity to that foolish weakness, since you

promise now and since moreover we've got on badly without you,'

(do you hear, do you hear;) 'and so,' says he, 'I rely now on

your word as a gentleman.' And all that, let me tell you, she has

simply made up for herself, and not simply out of wantonness, for

the sake of bragging; no, she believes it all herself, she amuses

herself with her own fancies, upon my word she does! And I don't

blame her for it, no, I don't blame her!...