Another wry smile. "Guilty as charged, but this is hardly a party. For that, someone would have to break out the brandy, ha ha. Who knows, maybe they will soon? After all, that would really get us talking."

The truth is Pyotr Stepanovich has simply long since gotten used to constant socializing. It doesn't mean he actually likes it, and whether he gets any pleasure from a particular person's company is simply irrelevant. People are either more or less useful: that's all.

"Listen, Raskolnikov," he says turning more serious. "I suggest not thinking too much about your mother and sister right now. It will only make you emotional, and I suspect that's exactly what they want. I wasn't kidding just now, since I really wouldn't be surprised if someone were to shortly discover that this place is actually a wine cellar. As you said, they watch us... They spy. I really think this whole thing is nothing but an elaborate ruse for the sake of conducting an experiment."

He crosses his arms, as though he too is worried he may have said too much.