And here come some poached eggs, my favorite dish.

And Agafea Mihalovna will give us that marvelous herb-brandy..." Stepan Arkadyevitch sat down at the table and began joking with Agafea Mihalovna, assuring her that it was long since he had tasted such a dinner and such a supper.

"Well, you do praise it, anyway," said Agafea Mihalovna, "but Konstantin Dmitrievitch, give him what you will--a crust of bread--he'll eat it and walk away.