They were arguing, standing up, but now they all suddenly sat down, so that I had to sit down too.

There was a stupid silence that was not broken for fully three minutes.

Though Shigalov knew me, he affected not to know me, probably not from hostile feelings, but for no particular reason.

Alexey Nilitch and I bowed to one another in silence, and for some reason did not shake hands.

Shigalov began at last looking at me sternly and frowningly, with the most naive assurance that I should immediately get up and go away.