Sanine

Tanaroff's profound contempt for the man who refused to fight a duel

was blended with the implicit belief that only an officer could

possibly possess the pluck and the fine sense of honour necessary to do

such a thing. That is why Sanine's refusal did not surprise him in the

least; in fact, he was secretly pleased.

"That is your affair," he said, in an unmistakably contemptuous tone,

"but I must warn you that ..."

Sanine laughed.

"Yes, yes, I know, but I advise Sarudine not to ..."

"Not to--what?" asked Tanaroff, as he picked up his cap from the

window-sill.

"I advise him not to touch me, or else I'll give him such a thrashing

that ..."

"Look here!" cried Von Deitz, in a fury. "I'm not going to stand

this... You ... you are simply laughing at us. Don't you understand

that to refuse to accept a challenge is ... is ..."

He was as red as a lobster, his eyes were starting from his head, and

there was foam on his lips.

Sanine looked curiously at his mouth, and said: "And this is the man whose calls himself a disciple of Tolstoi!"

Von Deitz winced, and tossed his head.

"I must beg of you," he spluttered, ashamed all the while at thus

addressing a man with whom till now he had been on friendly terms. "I

must beg of you not to mention that. It has nothing whatever to do with

this matter."

"Hasn't it! though?" replied Sanine. "It has a great deal to do with

it."

"Yes, but I must ask you," croaked Von Deitz, becoming hysterical.

"Really, this is too much! In short ..."

"Oh! That'll do!" replied Sanine, drawing back in disgust from Von

Deitz, from whose mouth saliva spurted. "Think what you like; I don't

care. And tell Sarudine that he is an ass!"

"You've no right, sir, I say, you've no right," shouted Von Deitz.

"Very good, very good," said Tanaroff, quite satisfied "Let us go."

"No!" cried the other, plaintively, as he waved his lanky arms. "How

dare he? ... what business I ... It's simply ..."

Sanine looked at him, and, making a contemptuous gesture, walked out of

the room.

"We will deliver your message to our brother-officer," said Tanaroff,

calling after him.

"As you please," said Sanine, without looking round. He could hear

Tanaroff trying to pacify the enraged Von Deitz, and thought to

himself, "As a rule the fellow's an utter fool, but put him on his

hobby-horse, and he becomes quite sensible."