On the contrary, he is engaged upon a very important work upon a history of the Russian Generals of 1812." "But who ever supposed him to be a fool?" asked the girl quickly. "What happened was that you took Vishnepokromov's word the word of a man who is himself both a fool and a good-for-nothing." "Well, well," said the father after further good-natured dispute on the subject of Vishnepokromov.