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"Exactly, not a hair's breadth farther," answered Prince Vasili,

laughing, "'Sergey Kuzmich... From all sides... From all sides...

Sergey Kuzmich...' Poor Vyazmitinov could not get any farther! He

began the rescript again and again, but as soon as he uttered

'Sergey' he sobbed, 'Kuz-mi-ch,' tears, and 'From all sides' was

smothered in sobs and he could get no farther. And again his

handkerchief, and again: 'Sergey Kuzmich, From all sides,'... and

tears, till at last somebody else was asked to read it."

"Kuzmich... From all sides... and then tears," someone repeated

laughing.

"Don't be unkind," cried Anna Pavlovna from her end of the table

holding up a threatening finger. "He is such a worthy and

excellent man, our dear Vyazmitinov...."