"Unfortunate" Germans are not a myth, but really do exist even in Russia, and are of a special type.
Andrey Antonovitch had always had a quite touching sympathy for him, and wherever he could, as he rose himself in the service, had promoted him to subordinate positions under him; but Blum had never been successful.
Either the post was abolished after he had been appointed to it, or a new chief took charge of the department; once he was almost arrested by mistake with other people.

He was precise, but he was gloomy to excess and to his own detriment.

He was tall and had red hair; he stooped and was depressed and even sentimental; and in spite of his being humbled by his life, he was obstinate and persistent as an ox, though always at the wrong moment.

For Andrey Antonovitch he, as well as his wife and numerous family, had cherished for many years a reverent devotion.
Except Andrey Antonovitch no one had ever liked him.

Yulia Mihailovna would have discarded him from the first, but could not overcome her husband's obstinacy.