But they cannot reach the main point.
They live for mere display, not for the organisation of life; these are their only measures: the newspapers and Sweden! [Mayakin speaks of Sweden, meaning Switzerland .-- Translator's note.] The doctor scoffed at me all day yesterday with this Sweden.

The public education, says he, in Sweden, and everything else there is first-class! But what is Sweden, anyway?
It may be that Sweden is but a fib, is but used as an example, and that there is no education whatever or any of the other things there.

And then, we don't live for the sake of Sweden, and Sweden cannot put us to test.

We have to make our lip according to our own last.

Isn't it so ?" And the archdeacon droned, his head thrown back: "Eternal me-emo-ory to the founder of this ho-ouse!" Foma shuddered, but Mayakin was already by his side, and pulling him by the sleeve, asked: "Are you going to the dinner ?" And Medinskaya's velvet-like, warm little hand glided once more over Foma's hand.
The dinner was to Foma a real torture.