'Capital!' put in Rudin, 'it follows that there is no such thing as
conviction according to you?'

'No, it doesn't exist.'

'Is that your conviction?'

'Yes.'

'How do you say that there are none then? Here you have one at the
very first turn.'

All in the room smiled and looked at one another.

'One minute, one minute, but----,' Pigasov was beginning.

But Darya Mihailovna clapped her hands crying, 'Bravo, bravo, Pigasov's
beaten!' and she gently took Rudin's hat from his hand.

'Defer your delight a little, madam; there's plenty of time!'
Pigasov began with annoyance. 'It's not sufficient to say a witty
word, with a show of superiority; you must prove, refute. We had
wandered from the subject of our discussion.'

'With your permission,' remarked Rudin, coolly, 'the matter is very
simple. You do not believe in the value of general propositions--you
do not believe in convictions?'

'I don't believe in them, I don't believe in anything!'