At this period an intimacy commenced between me and a very remarkable man, Prince Dmitri Nekhliudoff.  He was a tall and commanding figure, with an extraordinary intellect.  Whenever he found me alone, we seated ourselves in some secluded corner and found mutual delight in metaphysical discussions.  With ecstasy in those moments I soared higher and higher into the realms of thought.  This strange friendship grew.  We agreed to confess everything to each other, and thus we should really know each other and not be ashamed; but, in order that we should not be in any fear of strangers, we vowed never to say anything to anybody else about each other.  And we kept the vow.  As may be imagined, the influence of my friend over me was greater than mine over him.  I adopted his fervent ideas, which included lofty aspirations for the reformation of all mankind.

III.—­Youth

I was nearly sixteen, and from that time I date the beginning of youth.  Under various professors I studied, though by no means willingly, to prepare for the university.  At length, on April 16, I went for the first time to the great hall of the university.  For the first time in my life I wore a dress coat.  The bright hall was filled with a brilliant crowd of hundreds of young men in gymnasium costumes and dress coats, stately professors moving freely about among the tables.  On that day I was examined in history and answered questions in Russian history in brilliant style, for I knew the subject well.  I received five marks.  Similar success rewarded my efforts at the examination in mathematics, for the professor told me I had answered even better than was required, and on this occasion I received five points.

Everything went splendidly till I came to the Latin examination.  The Latin professor was spoken of in accents of terror, for he had the reputation of taking a fierce delight in plucking candidates.  My success so far had made me feel proudly confident, and as I could translate Cicero and Horace without the lexicon and was proficient in Zumpt’s Grammar, I thought I might equal the rest.  But not so.  The professor amicably passed one of my young acquaintances, although the youth was palpably deficient in his answers.  I afterwards learned that he was the student’s protector.

When my turn came, immediately afterwards, the professor turned on me in truly savage demeanour.  “That is not it; that is not it at all,” exclaimed he.  “This is not the way to prepare for higher education.  You only want to wear the uniform and to boast of being first.”

The demeanour of this professor so affected me that my confusion was complete.  I only received two marks, and the injustice so depressed me that I lost all ambition and allowed the remaining examinations to proceed without making any effort.  I made up my mind that it was unwise to aim at being first, and I resolved to adhere to this sentiment in the university.