Chapter 41 Section ten

As the party progressed to a later stage, the conversation among the guests was readjusted.Clements was bored, so he sat on the couch and flipped through a book called "Masterpieces of Flemish Painters", which was given to the child by Victor's mother and later left to Pnin .Joan was sitting on a footstool close to her husband's knees, with a plate of grapes on her wide skirt, and was wondering when to leave without hurting Timofey's feelings.Others are listening to Hagen lecturing on contemporary educational issues: "You might laugh..." he said, casting a sharp wink at Clements, who shook his head in refusal to accept the accusation, then handed Joan the album; A painting that suddenly aroused his interest.

"You may laugh, but I daresay the only way out of this situation—just a little, Timofey: well, that's enough—is to lock all the students in soundproof rooms and cancel the lecture halls altogether." "Yes, that's the way it should be done," whispered Joan to her husband, handing him the album again. "I'm glad you agree with me, Joan," Hagen went on. "But I have been called enfant terrible because I expounded this theory. However, after you listen to me, you may not agree so easily. Lectures in various disciplines should be recorded as much as possible for isolation. Open students choose to listen to...

"But the teacher's personality," said Margaret Thayer, "must have come into play when he taught." "It's no use at all!" Hagen exclaimed. "That's the tragedy! Who needs him, for example"—he pointed to the radiant Pnin—"who needs his personality? No one! They don't care about Timofey's wonderful personality .What the world wants is a machine, not an Iron Murphy." "Maybe you can put Timurphy on the air," Clements said. "Oh, that's very kind," said Joan, smiling at her master, and Betty nodded.Pnin bowed deeply to them and spread his arms in an "I'm disarmed" gesture.

"What do you think of my controversial plan?" Hagen asked Thomas. "I can tell you what Tom thinks," Clements said, still looking at the picture in the open album on his lap. "Tom thinks the best way to teach is by classroom discussion, which means twenty young fools and two smug, psychotic fellows, having a fifty-minute discussion on a subject that neither they nor the teacher can understand." Discussion. Well, for the last three months," he changed the subject illogically, "I've been looking for this painting, and I finally found it today. My new book on 'Philosophy of Gestures', published by Want a picture of me. Joan and I both remember we saw somewhere an ancient portrait of a master who looked exactly like me, but I can't remember when he was. But here it is, Here it is. All that needs to be retouched is to add a sweatshirt and remove the soldier's hands."

"I have to protest," Thomas began. Clements showed Margaret Thayer the open album, and she laughed. "I'll protest, Laurence," said Thom. "Such light-hearted discussion, in a broad general atmosphere, is a more practical approach to education than the old-fashioned rigid lecture method." "Of course, of course," Clements said. Pnin wanted to refill Joan's wine glass, but she stood up hastily and covered the glass with her little hand.Mrs. Thayer looked from her watch to her husband.Laurence opened his mouth and let out a small yawn.Betty asked Thomas if he knew a bat expert named Fogelman who lived in Santa Clara, Cuba.Hagen wanted a glass of water, but beer would do.Who does he look like?Puning thought suddenly.Eric Wind?Why?There was no similarity in physical appearance between the two.