"We are late though," said Katavasov, looking at his watch

directly Metrov had finished his discourse.

"Yes, there's a meeting of the Society of Amateurs today in

commemoration of the jubilee of Svintitch," said Katavasov in

answer to Levin's inquiry. "Pyotr Ivanovitch and I were going.

I've promised to deliver an address on his labors in zoology.

Come along with us, it's very interesting."

"Yes, and indeed it's time to start," said Metrov. "Come with

us, and from there, if you care to, come to my place. I should

very much like to hear your work."

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"Oh, no! It's no good yet, it's unfinished. But I shall be very

glad to go to the meeting."

"I say, friends, have you heard? He has handed in the separate

report," Katavasov called from the other room, where he was

putting on his frock coat.

And a conversation sprang up upon the university question, which

was a very important event that winter in Moscow. Three old

professors in the council had not accepted the opinion of the

younger professors. The young ones had registered a separate

resolution. This, in the judgment of some people, was monstrous,

in the judgment of others it was the simplest and most just thing

to do, and the professors were split up into two parties.

One party, to which Katavasov belonged, saw in the opposite party

a scoundrelly betrayal and treachery, while the opposite party

saw in them childishness and lack of respect for the authorities.

Levin, though he did not belong to the university, had several

times already during his stay in Moscow heard and talked about

this matter, and had his own opinion on the subject. He took

part in the conversation that was continued in the street, as

they all three walked to the buildings of the old university.

The meeting had already begun. Round the cloth-covered table, at

which Katavasov and Metrov seated themselves, there were some

half-dozen persons, and one of these was bending close over a

manuscript, reading something aloud. Levin sat down in one of

the empty chairs that were standing round the table, and in a

whisper asked a student sitting near what was being read. The

student, eyeing Levin with displeasure, said: "Biography."

Though Levin was not interested in the biography, he could not

help listening, and learned some new and interesting facts about

the life of the distinguished man of science.

When the reader had finished, the chairman thanked him and read

some verses of the poet Ment sent him on the jubilee, and said a

few words by way of thanks to the poet. Then Katavasov in his

loud, ringing voice read his address on the scientific labors of

the man whose jubilee was being kept.




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