Zverkov is another of the writer's former schoolmates. The writer doesn't have fond memories of Zverkov, saying that he won out in an argument once and that Zverkov exacted his revenge by winning several others. On the eve of his departure into the service, the writer invites himself along to a farewell gathering for Zverkov. The writer is angry by the end of the evening and challenges Zverkov to a duel which Zverkov says he'll accept but actually puts down to drunken ramblings.