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official of the twelfth class, who had served in Siberia as
a veterinary surgeon. His name was Mussyalovitch. Pan
Vrubelvsky turned out to be an uncertificated dentist. Al-
though Nikolay Parfenovitch asked them questions on
entering the room they both addressed their answers to
Mihail Makarovitch, who was standing on one side, taking
him in their ignorance for the most important person and
in command, and addressed him at every word as ‘Pan Col-
onel.’ Only after several reproofs from Mihail Makarovitch
himself, they grasped that they had to address their an-
swers to Nikolay Parfenovitch only. It turned out that they
could speak Russian quite correctly except for their accent
in some words. Of his relations with Grushenka, past and
present, Pan Mussyalovitch spoke proudly and warmly, so
that Mitya was roused at once and declared that he would
not allow the ‘scoundrel’ to speak like that in his presence!
Pan Mussyalovitch at once called attention to the word
‘scoundrel,’ and begged that it should be put down in the
protocol. Mitya fumed with rage.
‘He’s a scoundrel! A scoundrel! You can put that down.
And put down, too, that, in spite of the protocol I still de-
clare that he’s a scoundrel!’ he cried.
Though Nikolay Parfenovitch did insert this in the proto-
col, he showed the most praiseworthy tact and management.
After sternly reprimanding Mitya, he cut short all further
inquiry into the romantic aspect of the case, and hastened
to pass to what was essential. One piece of evidence giv-
en by the Poles roused special interest in the lawyers: that
was how, in that very room, Mitya had tried to buy off Pan