He deftly drew off the cloth, and displayed to Bersenyev's eyes a
statuette in Dantan's style, also of Insarov. Anything cleverer and
more spiteful could not be imagined. The young Bulgarian was
represented as a ram standing on his hind-legs, butting forward with
his horns. Dull solemnity and aggressiveness, obstinacy, clumsiness
and narrowness were simply printed on the visage of the 'sire of the
woolly flock,' and yet the likeness to Insarov was so striking that
Bersenyev could not help laughing.

'Eh? is it amusing?' said Shubin. 'Do you recognise the hero? Do
you advise me to send it too to the exhibition? That, my dear fellow,
I intend as a present for myself on my own name day. . . . Your honour
will permit me to play the fool.'

And Shubin gave three little leaps, kicking himself behind with his
heels.

Bersenyev picked up the cloth off the floor--and threw it over the
statuette.

'Ah, you, magnanimous'--began Shubin. 'Who the devil was it in
history was so particularly magnanimous? Well, never mind! And now,'
he continued, with melancholy triumph, uncovering a third rather large
mass of clay, 'you shall behold something which will show you the
humility and discernment of your friend. You will realise that he,
like a true artist again, feels the need and the use of
self-castigation. Behold!'

The cloth was lifted and Bersenyev saw two heads, modelled side by