NOTES
Silenus
In Russian, “silen.”
You grew from the mildew in the bath-house.
A proverbial expression in Russia.
Agrafena Alexandrovna
Grushenka.
Lyagavy
i.e. setter dog.
an important public event—it was in the year 1826
Probably the public event was the Decabrist plot against the Tsar, of December 1825, in which the most distinguished men in Russia were concerned.—Translator’s Note.
‘What earthly joy’—a little canticle,”
When a monk’s body is carried out from the cell to the church and from the church to the graveyard, the canticle “What earthly joy...” is sung. If the deceased was a priest as well as a monk the canticle “Our Helper and Defender” is sung instead.
“Perezvon?”
i.e. a chime of bells.
“Well, did you get your nose pulled?”
Literally: “Did you get off with a lo
