“This is Mr. Shatov, of whom I have told you, and this is Mr. G⁠⸺⁠v, a great friend of mine and of Stepan Trofimovitch’s. Mavriky Nikolaevitch made his acquaintance yesterday, too.”

“And which is the professor?”

“There’s no professor at all, maman.”

“But there is. You said yourself that there’d be a professor. It’s this one, probably.” She disdainfully indicated Shatov.

“I didn’t tell you that there’d be a professor. Mr. G⁠⸺⁠v is in the service, and Mr. Shatov is a former student.”