Neither relatives, nor fatherland, nor religion, nor wants, existed for him.

He believed in nothing and admitted nothing.

But although he believed in nothing he was not a morose or blase young man, nor self-opinionated, but on the contrary continually let himself be carried away.

He had come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as love, yet his heart always overflowed in the presence of any young and attractive woman.

He had long been aware that honours and position were nonsense, yet involuntarily he felt pleased when at a ball Prince Sergius came up and spoke to him affably.