“Yes, yes, of course, Rodion Romanovitch! I was just getting at it. I made many inquiries about you. I assure you I’ve been genuinely grieved since that⁠ ⁠… since I behaved like that⁠ ⁠… it was explained to me afterwards that you were a literary man⁠ ⁠… and a learned one too⁠ ⁠… and so to say the first steps⁠ ⁠… Mercy on us! What literary or scientific man does not begin by some originality of conduct! My wife and I have the greatest respect for literature, in my wife it’s a genuine passion! Literature and art! If only a man is a gentleman, all the rest can be gained by talents, learning, good sense, genius. As for a hat⁠—well, what does a hat matter? I can buy a hat as easily as I can a bun; but what’s under the hat, what the hat covers, I can’t buy that! I was even meaning to come and apologise to you, but thought maybe you’d⁠ ⁠… But I am forgetting to ask you, is there anything you want really? I hear your family have come?”

“Yes, my mother and sister.”