He did it idly and amply, in a luxuriant monologue, as a man speaks with very old friends.

On his side, also, the man who had impersonated Professor de Worms was not less communicative.

His own story was almost as silly as Syme's.
"That's a good get-up of yours," said Syme, draining a glass of Macon; "a lot better than old Gogol's.

Even at the start I thought he was a bit too hairy." "A difference of artistic theory," replied the Professor pensively.
"Gogol was an idealist.

He made up as the abstract or platonic ideal of an anarchist.