Sergey Ivanovitch's position was still more difficult from the fact that, since he had finished his book, he had had no more literary work to do, such as had hitherto occupied the greater part of his time.

Sergey Ivanovitch was clever, cultivated, healthy, and energetic, and he did not know what use to make of his energy.

Conversations in drawing rooms, in meetings, assemblies, and committees--everywhere where talk was possible--took up part of his time.