Kupfer, as was to be expected, was a visitor at her house, and became very intimate with her ... altogether too intimate, so malicious tongues asserted.  But he always spoke of her not only in a friendly manner, but also with respect; he lauded her as a woman of gold—­interpret that as you please!—­and was a firm believer in her love for art, and in her comprehension of art!—­So then, one day after dinner, at the Aratoffs’, after having discussed the Princess and her evening gatherings, he began to urge Yakoff to break in upon his life of an anchorite for once, and permit him, Kupfer, to introduce him to his friend.  At first Yakoff would not hear to anything of the sort.

“Why, what idea hast thou got into thy head?” exclaimed Kupfer at last.  “What sort of a presentation is in question?  I shall simply take thee, just as thou art now sitting there, in thy frock-coat, and conduct thee to her evening.  They do not stand on ceremony in the least there, brother!  Here now, thou art learned, and thou art fond of music” (there actually was in Aratoff’s study a small piano, on which he occasionally struck a few chords in diminished sevenths)—­“and in her house there is any quantity of that sort of thing!...  And there thou wilt meet sympathetic people, without any airs!  And, in conclusion, it is not right that at thy age, with thy personal appearance” (Aratoff dropped his eyes and waved his hand)—­“yes, yes, with thy personal appearance, thou shouldst shun society, the world, in this manner!  I’m not going to take thee to call on generals, seest thou!  Moreover, I don’t know any generals myself!...  Don’t be stubborn, my dear fellow!  Morality is a good thing, a thing worthy of respect....  But why give thyself up to asceticism?  Assuredly, thou art not preparing to become a monk!”

Aratoff continued, nevertheless, to resist; but Platonida Ivanovna unexpectedly came to Kupfer’s assistance.  Although she did not quite understand the meaning of the word “asceticism,” still she also thought that it would not be a bad idea for Yashenka to divert himself, to take a look at people,—­and show himself.—­“The more so,” she added, “that I have confidence in Feodor Feodoritch!  He will not take thee to any bad place!...”

“I’ll restore him to thee in all his pristine purity!” cried Kupfer, at whom Platonida Ivanovna, in spite of her confidence, kept casting uneasy glances; Aratoff blushed to his very ears—­but he ceased to object.

It ended in Kupfer taking him, on the following day, to the Princess’s evening assembly.  But Aratoff did not remain there long.  In the first place, he found at her house about twenty guests, men and women, who were, presumably, sympathetic, but who were strangers to him, nevertheless; and this embarrassed him, although he was obliged to talk very little:  but he feared this most of all.  In the second place, he did not like the hostess herself, although she welcomed him very cordially and unaffectedly.