It was a regular Bedlam.

I'll pass over the description of this life in 'corners,' a life to which Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch had taken," * In the poorer quarters of Russian towns a single room is often let out to several families, each of which occupies a "corner." "at that time, from eccentricity.

I'm only talking of that period, Varvara Petrovna; as for 'eccentricity,' that's his own expression.

He does not conceal much from me.Mlle.Lebyadkin, who was thrown in the way of meeting Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch very often, at one time, was fascinated by his appearance.

He was, so to say, a diamond set in the dirty background of her life.