Instantly, as it were, a living wall rose up between the rivals, amid
much shouting, waving of arms, and expressions of amusement or of
surprise. Sarudine was held back by Malinowsky and Von Deitz, while
Ivanoff and the other officers kept Novikoff in check. Ivanoff filled
up the glasses, and shouted out something, addressing no one in
particular. The gaiety was now forced and insincere, and Novikoff felt
suddenly that he must get away.
He could bear it no longer. Smiling foolishly, he turned to Ivanoff and
the officers who were trying to engage his attention.
"What is the matter with me?" he thought, half-dazed. "I suppose I
ought to strike him ... rush at him, and give him one in the eye!
Otherwise, I shall look such a fool, for they must all have guessed
that I wanted to pick a quarrel...."
But, instead of doing this, he pretended to be interested in what
Ivanoff and Von Deitz were saying.
"As regards women, I don't altogether agree with Tolstoi," said the
officer complacently.
"A woman's just a female," replied Ivanoff, "In every thousand men you
might find one worthy to be called a man. But women, bah! They're all
alike--just little naked, plump, rosy apes without tails!"
"Rather smart, that!" said Von Deitz, approvingly.
"And true, too," thought Novikoff, bitterly.
"My dear fellow," continued Ivanoff, waving his hands close to the
other's nose, "I'll tell you what, if you were to go to people and say,
'Whatsoever woman looketh on a man to lust after him hath committed
adultery with him already in her heart,' most of them would probably
think that you had made a most original remark."
Von Deitz burst into a fit of hoarse laughter that sounded like the
barking of a dog. He had not understood Ivanoff's joke, but felt sorry
not to have made it himself.
Suddenly Novikoff held out his hand to him.
"What? Are you off?" asked Von Deitz in surprise.
Novikoff made no reply.
"Where are you going?" asked Sanine.
Still Novikoff was silent. He felt that in another moment the grief
pent up within his bosom must break forth in a flood of tears.
"I know what's wrong with you," said Sanine. "Spit on it all!"
Novikoff glanced piteously at him. His lips trembled and with a
deprecating gesture, he silently went out, feeling utterly overcome at
his own helplessness. To soothe himself, he thought: "Of what good would it have been to hit that blackguard in the face? It
would have only led to a stupid fight. Better not soil my hands!"