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He found him incredibly inattentive and irritable, though he,

Andrey Semyonovitch, began enlarging on his favourite subject,

the foundation of a new special "commune." The brief remarks that

dropped from Pyotr Petrovitch between the clicking of the beads

on the reckoning frame betrayed unmistakable and discourteous

irony. But the "humane" Andrey Semyonovitch ascribed Pyotr

Petrovitch's ill-humour to his recent breach with Dounia and he

was burning with impatience to discourse on that theme. He had

something progressive to say on the subject which might console

his worthy friend and "could not fail" to promote his

development.

"There is some sort of festivity being prepared at that... at the

widow's, isn't there?" Pyotr Petrovitch asked suddenly,

interrupting Andrey Semyonovitch at the most interesting passage.

"Why, don't you know? Why, I was telling you last night what I

think about all such ceremonies. And she invited you too, I

heard. You were talking to her yesterday..."