Solitaria

P.S. “Examining my Coins.” The identification, classification, and description of ancient coins demand great attention from the eye, examination (through a magnifying glass), and the labour of remembering and recolleéting (analogous coins and figures). But it leaves free the imagination, thought, also anger or tenderness. Then, putting the coin and the magnifying glass aside, I used to put down what had passed in the soul, “just that moment ”, those “ twenty minutes.” . . .

P.P.S. “On the back of the lined sheet”, that is, when writing an article. But during the writing, another idea would come to me, an idea which had nothing to do with the article. Then, quickly removing the lined sheet, I wrote down on the back of it that other idea.

P.P.P.S. “Fame”, “ popularity ” and such-like terms are meant in the sense of being widely known in Russia, popular in Russia owing to my collaboration in a paper of wide circulation. (In Piatigorsk the keeper of the Lermontov house “ knew me”; he was an ancient half-alive petty official in retirement. Is he still alive?).