"Ah, by the way, a splendid young fellow has asked leave to go, and they've made some difficulty, I don't know why.

I meant to ask you; I know him; please write a note about his case.

He's being sent by Countess Lidia Ivanovna.

" Sergey Ivanovitch asked for all the details the princess knew about the young man, and going into the first-class waiting-room, wrote a note to the person on whom the granting of leave of absence depended, and handed it to the princess.