"Ardalyon Borisitch, you happen to be in debt to me and therefore you've got to pay, and that I happen to be poor has nothing to do with the matter. I haven't yet come down to begging my bread off anyone, and as you know the only poor devil is the one that hasn't any bread to eat, and as I eat bread, and butter with it, that means I'm not poor." And he became mollified and at the same time blushed with joy to think that he had answered so cleverly, and twisted his lips into a smile. * * * * * At last Peredonov and Volodin decided to go and fix up the match. They arranged themselves very elaborately and they had a solemn and more than usually stupid look. Peredonov put on a white stock. Volodin a vivid red tie with green stripes. Peredonov argued thus: "As I am to do the match-making, mine is a sober role. I must live up to it. So I must wear a white tie, and you, the lover, should show your flaming feelings." With intense solemnity Peredonov and Volodin seated themselves in the Adamenkos' drawing-room. Peredonov sat on a sofa and Volodin in an arm-chair. Nadezhda looked at her visitors in astonishment. The visitors talked about the weather and various bits of news, with the look of people who had come upon a delicate affair and did not know how to approach it. At last Peredonov coughed, frowned and began: "Nadezhda Vassilyevna, we've come on business." "On business," said Volodin, making a significant face; and he protruded his lips. "It's about him," said Peredonov, and pointed at Volodin with his forefinger. "It's about me," echoed Volodin, and pointed his own forefinger at his breast. Nadezhda smiled. "Please go on," she said. "I'm going to speak for him," said Peredonov. "He's bashful, he can't make up his mind to do it himself. He's a worthy, non-drinking, good man. He does not earn much, but that's nothing. Everyone needs a different thing--one needs money, another needs a man. Well, why don't you say something?" He turned to Volodin, "Say something!" Volodin lowered his head and spoke in a trembling voice, like a bleating ram: "It's true I don't earn high wages. But I shall always have my crumb of bread. It's true that I didn't go to a university, but I live as may God grant everyone to do. But I don't know anything against myself--and besides, let everyone judge for himself. But I, well, I'm satisfied with myself." He spread out his arms, lowered his forehead as if he were about to butt and grew silent. "And so, as you see," said Peredonov, "he's a young man. And he shouldn't live like this. He ought to marry. In any case the married man is always better off." "And if his wife suits him, what can be better?" added Volodin. "And you," continued Peredonov, "are a girl. You also ought to marry."