"Oh, stop! Mephistopheles of Russia!" Nejdanov exclaimed
irritably. "I am not in the mood for fencing with blunt
witticisms just now."

Paklin laughed.

"That's not quite correct. If it is wit, then it can't be blunt.
If blunt, then it can't be wit."

"All right, all right! We know you are clever!

"Your nerves are out of order," Paklin remarked hesitatingly. "Or
has something really happened?"

"Oh, nothing in particular, only that it is impossible to show
one's nose in this hateful town without knocking against some
vulgarity, stupidity, tittle-tattle, or some horrible injustice.
One can't live here any longer!"

"Is that why your advertisement in the papers says that you want
a place and have no objection to leaving St. Petersburg? "
Ostrodumov asked.

"Yes. I would go away from here with the greatest of pleasure, if
some fool could be found who would offer me a place!"

"You should first fullfil your duties here," Mashurina remarked
significantly, her face still turned away.

"What duties?" Nejdanov asked, turning towards her.