He was himself conscious that, except that whimsical gentleman married to Kitty Shtcherbatskaya, who had _a propos de bottes_ poured out a stream of irrelevant absurdities with such spiteful fury, every nobleman with whom he had made acquaintance had become his adherent.

He saw clearly, and other people recognized it, too, that he had done a great deal to secure the success of Nevyedovsky.

And now at his own table, celebrating Nevyedovsky's election, he was experiencing an agreeable sense of triumph over the success of his candidate.

The election itself had so fascinated him that, if he could succeed in getting married during the next three years, he began to think of standing himself--much as after winning a race ridden by a jockey, he had longed to ride a race himself.

Today he was celebrating the success of his jockey.

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