But what contributed more than all to his success was his direct, equable manner with everyone, which very quickly made the majority of the noblemen reverse the current opinion of his supposed haughtiness.

He was himself conscious that, except that whimsical gentleman married to Kitty Shtcherbatskaya, who had _a propos de bottes_ poured out a stream of irrelevant absurdities with such spiteful fury, every nobleman with whom he had made acquaintance had become his adherent.

He saw clearly, and other people recognized it, too, that he had done a great deal to secure the success of Nevyedovsky.