_ Everything, together with the excellent dinner and the wine, not from Russian merchants, but imported direct from abroad, was extremely dignified, simple, and enjoyable.

The party--some twenty--had been selected by Sviazhsky from among the more active new liberals, all of the same way of thinking, who were at the same time clever and well bred.

They drank, also half in jest, to the health of the new marshal of the province, of the governor, of the bank director, and of "our amiable host.