Polish for “sirs” or “gentlemen,” the panie are two Polish officers with whom and Kalganov are keeping company at Plastunov’s inn when arrives. One is short, “plumpish,” and “broad-faced.” He is Pan Mussyalovich, the Polish officer to whom Grushenka is supposedly engaged. He is a retired official of the twelfth grade, which is one of the lowest-ranking grades of the imperial civil service, and served in Siberia as a veterinarian. Grushenka has been in love with him for five years, though the officer ultimately dumped her and married another woman. His companion is Pan Vrublevsky, a freelance dentist who is described as “exceedingly tall.” Trifon Borisovich exposes the men for cheating during a card game with a marked deck. The panie leave and the Polish officer breaks his engagement with Grushenka. The panie later run out of money and end up living in abject poverty.