" I heard the bell and thought: Impossible that it can be he at the exact time!... Well, what do you say to the Montenegrins now? They're a race of warriors.

" "Why, what's happened?" asked Levin.

Katavasov in a few words told him the last piece of news from the war, and going into his study, introduced Levin to a short, thick-set man of pleasant appearance.

This was Metrov.

The conversation touched for a brief space on politics and on how recent events were looked at in the higher spheres in Petersburg.