“You see, my friend⁠ ⁠… you’ll allow me to call myself your friend, n’est-ce pas ?” Stepan Trofimovitch began hurriedly as soon as the trap started. “You see I⁠ ⁠… J’aime le peuple, c’est indispensable, mais il me semble que je ne m’avais jamais vu de près. Stasie⁠ ⁠… cela va sans dire qu’elle est aussi du peuple, mais le vrai peuple , that is, the real ones, who are on the high road, it seems to me they care for nothing, but where exactly I am going⁠ ⁠… But let bygones be bygones. I fancy I am talking at random, but I believe it’s from being flustered.”

“You don’t seem quite well.” Sofya Matveyevna watched him keenly though respectfully.