He remembered how, just before leaving for Moscow, he had said to Nicholas, his cowman, a naive peasant with whom he liked to talk: 'Well, Nicholas, I want to get married,' and how Nicholas had promptly replied, as on a matter about which there could be no doubt: 'And it's high time, Constantine Dmitrich.'
Recordaba que, poco antes de marchar a Moscú, había dicho a su vaquero Nicolás, hombre ingenuo con el que le gustaba charlar: –¿Sabes que quiero casarme, Nicolás? Y Nicolás le había contestado rápidamente, como sobre un asunto fuera de discusión: –Ya es hora, Constantino Dmitrievich.