FyodorPavlovitchskippedup, andimprintedarapidkissontheelder'sthinhand."Itis, , , Ihavebeenallmylifetakingoffense, topleasemyself, takingoffenseonestheticgrounds, foritisnotsomuchpleasantasdistinguishedsometimestobeinsulted—thatyouhadforgotten, greatelder, itisdistinguished! , lyingpositivelymywholelifelong, , Iamalie, , thesonoflies, ...myangel...ImaysometimestalkaboutDiderot! Diderotwilldonoharm, , bytheway, Iwasforgetting, : Isittrue, greatFather, thatthestoryistoldsomewhereintheLivesoftheSaintsofaholysaintmartyredforhisfaithwho, whenhisheadwascutoffatlast, stoodup, pickeduphishead, and, 'courteouslykissingit,' walkedalongway, , honoredFather?"
"No, itisuntrue," saidtheelder.
"?" askedtheFatherLibrarian.
", andcan', anddoyouknowwhotoldit? PyotrAlexandrovitchMiüsovhere, ."
"Ihavenevertoldityou, Ineverspeaktoyouatall."
"Itistrueyoudidnottellme, , , butIwenthomewithmyfaithshaken, , PyotrAlexandrovitch, !"
FyodorPavlovitchgotexcitedandpathetic, thoughitwasperfectlycleartoeveryonebynowthathewasplayingapartagain.YetMiüsovwasstungbyhiswords.
"Whatnonsense, anditisallnonsense," hemuttered."Imayreallyhavetoldit, sometimeorother......hewasaverylearnedmanwhohadmadeaspecialstudyofRussianstatisticsandhadlivedalongtimeinRussia....IhavenotreadtheLivesoftheSaintsmyself, andIamnotgoingtoreadthem...allsortsofthingsaresaidatdinner—wewerediningthen."
"Yes, youwerediningthen, andsoIlostmyfaith!" saidFyodorPavlovitch, mimickinghim.
"WhatdoIcareforyourfaith?" Miüsovwasonthepointofshouting, buthesuddenlycheckedhimself, andsaidwithcontempt, "Youdefileeverythingyoutouch."
Theeldersuddenlyrosefromhisseat."Excuseme, gentlemen, forleavingyouafewminutes," hesaid, addressingallhisguests."'tyoutellliesallthesame," headded, : hewasgladtogetaway, buthewasglad, too, .
"Blessedman!" hecried, withfeeling.", withyouIcouldstilltalk, ? Believeme, ? Iamreadytogiveyouatestimonialthatonecangetonwithyou! Butnow, I'llbequiet; Iwillkeepquietallthetime.I', —fortenminutes."
