A House of Gentlefolk

Book Excerptspent hiswhole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the Englishclubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not verytrustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow. In spite of his smartness, he was almost always on the brink of ruin, and the property he left hisson was small and heavily-encumbered. To make up for that, however, hedid exert himself, after his own fashion, over his son's education.Vladimir Nikolaitch spoke French very well, English well, and Germanbadly; that is the proper thing; fashionable people would be ashamed tospeak German well; but to utter an occasional--generally ahumorous--phrase in German is quite correct, c'est meme tres chic, asthe Parisians of Petersburg express themselves. By the time he wasfifteen, Vladimir knew how to enter any drawing-room withoutembarrassment, how to move about in it gracefully and to leave it at theappropriate moment. Panshin's father gained many connections for hisson. He never lost an opportunity, while shufflingRead Mor