Seized with the thought of freedom, which seemed to him so easily possible, Foma did not listen to his words.

This idea had eaten into his brains, and in his heart the desire grew stronger and stronger to sever all his connections with this empty and wearisome life, with his godfather, with the steamers, the barges and the carouses, with everything amidst which it was narrow and stifling for him to live.
The old man's words seemed to fall on him from afar; they were blended with the clatter of the dishes, with the scraping of the lackey's feet along the floor, with some one's drunken shouting.

Not far from them sat four merchants at a table and argued loudly: "Two and a quarter--and thank God!" "Luka Mitrich! How can I ?" "Give him two and a half!" "That's right! You ought to give it, it's a good steamer, it tows briskly." "My dear fellows, I can't.

Two and a quarter!" "And all this nonsense came to your head from your youthful passion!" said Mayakin, importantly, accompanying his words with a rap on the table.

"Your boldness is stupidity; all these words of yours are nonsense.