"but is it true that i have but a fortnight of life left to me? i know i told some of my friends that doctor b. had informed me that this was the case; but i now confess that i lied; b. has not even seen me. however, a week ago, i called in a medical student, kislorodoff, who is a nationalist, an atheist, and a nihilist, by conviction, and that is why i had him. i needed a man who would tell me the bare truth without any humbug or ceremony and so he did indeed, almost with pleasure (which i thought was going a little too far).