Discussions in drawing-rooms, at meetings, at assemblies, in committees, and everywhere where one could speak, took up part of his time; but, as an habitual town-dweller, he did not allow himself to be entirely absorbed by discussions, as his inexperienced brother did when he was in Moscow; so he had much superfluous leisure and mental energy.
Las charlas en salones, reuniones, congresos y comités –es decir, en todos los lugares donde cabía discutir– ocupaba parte de su tiempo. Pero él, residente en la ciudad hacía muchos años, no se prodigaba por completo a las conversaciones como su inexperto hermano cuando llegaba a Moscú.