Sanine

"Why do you suppose that I have not?" asked Yourii, and his dark eyes

flashed menacingly. "Perhaps my conception of life may be a wrong one,

but I have it."

"Very well, then," said Sanine, "why seek to acquire another?"

Pistzoff tittered.

"Hush!" cried Koudriavji contemptuously, as his neck twitched.

"How clever he is!" thought Sina Karsavina, full of naïve admiration

for Sanine. She looked at him, and then at Svarogitsch, feeling almost

bashful, and yet strangely glad. It was as if the two disputants were

arguing as to who should possess her.

"Thus, it follows," continued Sanine, "that you do not need what you

are vainly seeking. To me it is evident that every person here to-night

is endeavouring to force the others to accept his views, being himself

mortally afraid lest others should persuade him to think as they do.

Well, to be quite frank, that is boring."

"One moment! Allow me!" exclaimed Goschienko.

"Oh I that will do!" said Sanine, with a gesture of annoyance. "I

expect that you have a most wonderful conception of life, and have read

heaps of books. One can see that directly. Yet you lose your temper

because everybody doesn't agree with you; and, what is more, you behave

rudely to Soloveitchik, who has certainly never done you any harm."

Goschienko was silent, looking utterly amazed, as if Sanine had said

something most extraordinary.

"Yourii Nicolaijevitch," said Sanine cheerily, "you must not be angry

with me because I spoke somewhat bluntly just now. I can see that in

your soul discord reigns."

"Discord?" exclaimed Yourii, reddening. He did not know whether he

ought to be angry or riot. Just as it had done during their walk to the

meeting, Sanine's calm, friendly voice pleasantly impressed him.

"Ah! you know yourself that it is so!" replied Sanine, with a smile.

"But it won't do to pay any attention to such childish nonsense. Life's

really too short."

"Look here," shouted Goschienko, purple with rage, "You take far too

much upon yourself!"

"Not more than you do."

"How's that?"

"Think it out for yourself," said Sanine. "What you say and do is far

ruder and more unamiable than anything that I say."

"I don't understand you!"

"That's not my fault."

"What?"

To this Sanine made no reply, but taking up his cap, said: "I'm off. It is getting a bit too dull for me."