Everything that had formerly appeared mysterious and fascinating in Speranski suddenly became plain and unattractive.

At dinner the conversation did not cease for a moment and seemed to consist of the contents of a book of funny anecdotes.

Before Magnitski had finished his story someone else was anxious to relate something still funnier.

Most of the anecdotes, if not relating to the state service, related to people in the service.

It seemed that in this company the insignificance of those people was so definitely accepted that the only possible attitude toward them was one of good humored ridicule.