"Oh, by the way," said Stepan Arkadyevitch, "I wanted to ask you, some time when you see Pomorsky, to drop him a hint that I should be very glad to get that new appointment of secretary of the committee of the amalgamated agency of the southern railways and banking companies.

" Stepan Arkadyevitch was familiar by now with the title of the post he coveted, and he brought it out rapidly without mistake.

Alexey Alexandrovitch questioned him as to the duties of this new committee, and pondered.

He was considering whether the new committee would not be acting in some way contrary to the views he had been advocating.

But as the influence of the new committee was of a very complex nature, and his views were of very wide application, he could not decide this straight off, and taking off his pince-nez, he said: "Of course, I can mention it to him; but what is your reason precisely for wishing to obtain the appointment?" "It's a good salary, rising to nine thousand, and my means..." "Nine thousand!" repeated Alexey Alexandrovitch, and he frowned.