Most of the guests, knowing of the affair with the bear, looked with curiosity at this big, stout, quiet man, wondering how such a clumsy, modest fellow could have played such a prank on a policeman.
"You have only lately arrived ?" the countess asked him.
"Oui, madame," replied he, looking around him.
"You have not yet seen my husband ?" "Non, madame." He smiled quite inappropriately.
"You have been in Paris recently, I believe?
I suppose it's very interesting." "Very interesting." The countess exchanged glances with Anna Mikhaylovna.

The latter understood that she was being asked to entertain this young man, and sitting down beside him she began to speak about his father; but he answered her, as he had the countess, only in monosyllables.

The other guests were all conversing with one another.

"The Razumovskis...

It was charming...