duties?'

Rudin looked steadily at Pigasov.

'The baron is an amateur on this subject,' he replied, growing rather
red, 'but in his essay there is much that is interesting and just.'

'I am not able to dispute it with you; I have not read the essay. But
I venture to ask--the work of your friend Baron Muffel is no doubt
founded more upon general propositions than upon facts?'

'It contains both facts and propositions founded upon the facts.'

'Yes, yes. I must tell you that, in my opinion--and I've a right to
give my opinion, on occasion; I spent three years at Dorpat . . . all
these, so-called general propositions, hypotheses, these
systems--excuse me, I am a provincial, I speak the truth bluntly--are
absolutely worthless. All that's only theorising--only good for
misleading people. Give us facts, sir, and that's enough!'

'Really!' retorted Rudin, 'why, but ought not one to give the
significance of the facts?'

'General propositions,' continued Pigasov, 'they're my abomination,
these general propositions, theories, conclusions. All that's based on
so-called convictions; every one is talking about his convictions, and
attaches importance to them, prides himself on them. Ah!'

And Pigasov shook his fist in the air. Pandalevsky laughed.