It was obvious now that he had given very much thought to his uniform.

It fitted him perfectly, his epaulettes glittered, his boots shone, his sword was magnificent, but he looked, in spite of all his efforts, exactly what he was, a rich successful merchant; never was there any one less military.

He had dressed up, one might suppose, for some fancy-dress ball.
I could see at once that he was ill at ease, anxious as ever to please every one, to like every one, to be liked in return, but unable, because of some thought that troubled him, to give his whole attention to this business of pleasing.
He greeted me with a warmth that was really genuine although he bestowed it upon his merest acquaintances.

His great dream in life was a universal popularity--that every one should love him.

At any rate at that time I thought that to be his dream--I know now that there was something else.
"But Ivan Petrovitch!...