“On the contrary, your wife requested me to read something tomorrow at her fête. I’ve not come to make a request but to ask for my rights.⁠ ⁠…”

“At the fête? There’ll be no fête. I won’t allow your fête. A lecture? A lecture?” he screamed furiously.

“I should be very glad if you would speak to me rather more politely, your Excellency, without stamping or shouting at me as though I were a boy.”

“Perhaps you understand whom you are speaking to?” said Lembke, turning crimson.

“Perfectly, your Excellency.”

“I am protecting society while you are destroying it!⁠ ⁠… You⁠ ⁠… I remember about you, though: you used to be a tutor in the house of Madame Stavrogin?”

“Yes, I was in the position⁠ ⁠… of tutor⁠ ⁠… in the house of Madame Stavrogin.”