"Believe me, I appreciate it, and I hope you won't regret it," answered Stepan Arkadyevitch, smiling.

And, putting on his coat as he went, he patted the footman on the head, chuckled, and went out.

"At five o'clock, and not evening dress, please," he shouted once more, turning at the door.

It was past five, and several guests had already arrived, before the host himself got home.

He went in together with Sergey Ivanovitch Koznishev and Pestsov, who had reached the street door at the same moment.