When he saw Agafea Mihalovna, he made jokes with her and asked after the old servants.

The news of the death of Parfen Denisitch made a painful impression on him.

A look of fear crossed his face, but he regained his serenity immediately.

"Of course he was quite old," he said, and changed the subject.

"Well, I'll spend a month or two with you, and then I'm off to Moscow.