But the Moscow significance of the word "honest" was lost on Alexey Alexandrovitch.

"Honesty is only a negative qualification," he said.

"Well, you'll do me a great service, anyway," said Stepan Arkadyevitch, "by putting in a word to Pomorsky--just in the way of conversation....

" "But I fancy it's more in Volgarinov's hands," said Alexey Alexandrovitch.