He was related, on his father's side, to the governor, and was received by the latter as a near kinsman.

But a few months passed and the wild beast showed his claws.
I may observe by the way, in parenthesis, that Ivan Ossipovitch, our dear mild governor, was rather like an old woman, though he was of good family and highly connected--which explains the fact that he remained so long among us, though he steadily avoided all the duties of his office.
From his munificence and hospitality he ought rather to have been a marshal of nobility of the good old days than a governor in such busy times as ours.

It was always said in the town that it was not he, but Varvara Petrovna who governed the province.

Of course this was said sarcastically; however, it was certainly a falsehood.

And, indeed, much wit was wasted on the subject among us.