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Through my aid he will gain access to the leading houses, and

when he is known to important people he will get an office and a

decoration; then let him abandon the service if he wishes and

return home, being by that time of some importance and well known

in society. What do you think about that, brother?"

"In his early years," said the Judge, "it is not bad for a young

man to gain social experience, to see the world, and acquire

polish among men. I myself, when young, covered no small ground;

I have been in Piotrkow and in Dubno, now following the court as

a lawyer, now attending to my own affairs; I have even visited

Warsaw. Not a little did I profit by this. I should like to send

out my nephew also among men, simply as a traveller, as an

apprentice who is finishing his term, in order that he might

acquire some little knowledge of the world. Not for the sake of

office-holding or decorations! I beg your most humble pardon; a

rank in the Muscovite hierarchy, a decoration, what sort of

distinction are they? What man among our ancient notables-nay,

even among those of this present day-what man of any prominence

among the district gentry cares for such trifles?