'If only we had some one like Mihail here in our province!'
'Why? Are you discontented with anything?'
Kallomyetsev puckered up his nose.
'Yes, always that provincial council! That provincial council! What good is it? It simply weakens the administration and arouses . . . superfluous ideas. . .' (Kallomyetsev waved his bare left hand, freed from the compression of the glove) '. . . and impossible expectations.' (Kallomyetsev breathed on his hand.) 'I have talked of this at Petersburg . . . mais bah! The wind's not in that quarter now. Even your husband . . . imagine! But of course he's a well-known liberal!'
Madame Sipyagin drew herself up on the little lounge.
'What? You, M'sieu Kallomyetsev, you in opposition to the government!'
'I? In opposition? Never! On no account! Mais j'ai mon franc parler, I sometimes criticise, but I always submit!'
'And I do just the opposite; I don't criticise and I don't submit.'
'Ah! mais c'est un mot! I will, if you will allow me, repeat your remark to my friend, Ladislas─vous savez─he is writing a society novel, and has already read me some chapters.
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