A note on Russian translations in Chekhov, Dostoyevsky

A word about one of the translation quirks in the Pevear-Volokhonsky edition of Anton Chekhov's Stories: why do they often translate a phrase in Russian conversation among men as "my dear"? I've seen this in other P-V translations as well, notably the conversations between the inspector and Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment. Perhaps "my dear" is a literal translatio of a Russian phrase, but I have to wonder if P-V are tone deaf in some respects: in English, no man would address another as "my dear" outside of a sexual or amorous relationship or, rarely, perhaps a father or grandfather speaking to son or grandson. The phrase in conversation among friends always strikes me in P-V translations as very odd - and I don't believe it would be any less odd in the late 19th century. I don't know anything about the Russian original - but isn't there a more apt phrase in English, such as "my friend," pal, buddy, something? Have just started next Chekhov story in the excellent collection, The Black Monk, about a scientist or psychologist who is suffering from exhaustion and goes on a vacation to visit his former tutor or benefactor (seems that the man, Yevgeny?, has raised him since childhood) and in particular to visit Y's daughter, whom he believes he might fall in love with. Y. expresses the strange and selfish hope that the daughter will never marry - so that she can carry on with his beloved orchard (there's a Chekhovian theme!) after he dies - but says the one person he would accept her marrying is the young visitor. This statement sets up many expectations - but all will not go smoothly, it seems, as father and daughter sometimes quarrel bitterly and the very rational, temperate scientist is beginning to realize that the girl may be far more complex and tempestuous than he'd imagined - when he knew her last, as a little girl.