He was surrounded by acquaintances, who were kindly consoling him; he listened to them and understood that they all felt sorry for him and that he became dear to them.

And his godfather whispered in his ear: "See, how they all fawn upon you.

The tom-cats have smelt the fat." These words were unpleasant to Foma, but they were useful to him, as they caused him to answer at all events.
At the cemetery, when they sang for Ignat's eternal memory, he cried again bitterly and loud.

His godfather immediately seized him by the arms and led him away from the grave, speaking to him earnestly: "What a faint-hearted fellow you are! Do I not feel sorry for him?
I have known his real value, while you were but his son.

And yet, I do not cry.